Preface:-
National statistics reveal that hardly 15 percent of industrial reportable accidents are connected to a breach of law. In other words, legislation and enforcement alone will not solve the problems faced in the sectors of industrial safety and occupational health. Education and training might. With this background in mind, the Government of Goa took up a progressive and welfare-oriented socio-economic measure to create awareness along with the industries and their workers on topics of great importance. As a result of this, the Institute of Safety, Occupational Health, and Environment were set up in the year 1986-Safety Training Centre was the nomenclature then, it serves a State that is on the threshold of rapid and diversified industrialization, but a State, let it be stressed, that is rated as the most environmentally aware of the country. The output of the center/Institute has been evaluated by several experts and the general opinion is that the achievements were remarkable. If one visitor thought the Institute’s library was better than any (he) encountered" in his long and enlightened experience, another visitor, an American expert in public health, was of the view that " the Institute’s presence in the industrial community has set an example to be copied in other countries". We are conscious, however, that the Institute has still a long way to go.
Brief History:
Up to the year 1983, implementation and enforcement of The Factories Act, 1948 and The Boilers Act, 1923 was carried out by the Factory Inspector functioning under the authority of Commissioner, Labour, and Employment, Government of Goa, Daman, and Diu. In the light of directives of the Government of India and the recommendations of the 24th Session of the Labour Ministers' Conference, the Government of Goa, Daman, and Diu decided to bifurcate the Factory and Boiler Inspectorate from the Office of the Commissioner, Labour, and Employment and to create a new Office of the Government to be named as the "Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers". Since then, it has been entrusted with the implementation of the Factories Act, 1948, The Boilers Act, 1923, and the Rules thereunder, Industrial Safety Training Centre, and the Industrial Hygiene Laboratory. Subsequently with the enactment of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, powers to implement certain provisions under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 were vested with the Chief Inspector. Department is headed by the Chief Inspector of Factories & Boilers, who also acts as an Ex-Officio Joint Secretary to the Government.
About Institute:-
The institute campus is at Altinho, the premier residential district of Panaji, the capital city of Goa. It is an ideal location in the sense that it is a combination of various pleasant and distinguishing features-in a quiet and scenic ambiance, yet easily accessible to shopping centers, posts, and telegraphs, telephone, fax and telex facilities, bus terminus, recreational centers like cinema houses, restaurants, sports stadia, swimming pools, etc., The Institute which is the only one of its kind in India under the aegis of the State Government was originally designed to conduct non-academic courses ranging from one day to ten days’ duration. Recently the facilities have been upgraded to conduct industry-need, job-oriented courses such as post-graduate studies in industrial safety, pollution control technology, and occupational health. The Institute covers a wide variety of topics in general safety, advanced safety, fire safety, etc., first aid, occupational health, industrial hygiene, and so on. The tailor-made program, to suit the need of individual industries are also undertaken. The beneficiaries include industries, both private and public sector undertakings, State Government Institutions, technical institutes, colleges, etc., The Institute coordinates with national bodies having similar objectives like the National Safety Council, Loss Prevention Association of India Limited, Central Labour Institute, and such other organizations, to conduct national-level courses on topics of risk management, total loss control, disaster management, major hazards control in industries and so on. International agencies such as the British Council Division of the British Deputy Commission, have not supported the activities of this Institute by extending services of foreign faculty.
Objective / Purpose:
The main objective of the Department is implementation of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act) and the various rules made thereunder, The Boilers Act, 1923 (Central Act) and the various rules & regulations made thereunder and part implementation of the Manufacture, Storage & Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 (central rules) framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Vision:
To achieve continual improvement concerning the occupational safety, health, welfare, and working conditions for the workers in the factories and safety of the Boilers in the State by effective implementation and enforcement of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act) and the various rules made thereunder, The Boilers Act, 1923 (Central Act) and the various rules & regulations made thereunder and part implementation of the Manufacture, Storage & Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 (Central Rules) framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
To bring out the salient features of the legislations which are enforced by the Department, to explain the steps to be followed to comply with the provisions and to change the attitude of management and employees towards the Inspectorate as a facilitating organization rather than an enforcing agency.
Timings:-
Classes are conducted in the Institute from Monday to Friday, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a lunch break from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm. Saturdays are generally scheduled for industrial visits. The office functions from 9.30 am to 5.45 pm on all working days, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Government holidays, with a lunch break from 1.15 pm to 2.00 pm.
