Paradip: Odisha Labor Commissioner and Director of Factories and Boilers, Shri Indramani Tripathy, IAS, inaugurated a crucial state-level training programme designed to elevate safety standards in industries handling hazardous chemicals.
The one-day event, focused entirely on the safe handling of ammonia, was organized by the Directorate of Factories and Boilers, Government of Odisha, in association with the State Labour Institute, Odisha, at the Community Centre of the IFFCO Paradeep Unit in Jagatsinghpur.
Addressing a gathering of around 160 industry representatives, Shri Indramani Tripathy highlighted the critical nature of process safety management. He urged industrial units across the state to strictly comply with statutory safety guidelines and proactively work to prevent chemical hazards. Shri Tripathy emphasized that regular safety audits, robust training sessions, and routine mock drills are indispensable tools for maintaining a zero-accident environment in high-risk zones.
The training initiative was supported by various administration and industry leaders. Shri Niranjan Behera, Additional District Magistrate of Paradeep, attended as the Guest of Honour, emphasizing the need for seamless coordination between local industries, regulatory bodies, and the district administration.
Technical perspectives were provided by senior safety officials, including Dr. Malay Kumar Pradhan and Shri Manoj Kumar Panda from the Directorate of Factories and Boilers, who spoke on the inspection, certification, and preventive maintenance of ammonia systems. Industry perspective was shared by Shri P. K. Mahapatra of IFFCO and Shri S. Girish of Paradeep Phosphates Limited, who reiterated their commitment to adopting advanced occupational safety protocols.
The technical curriculum delivered practical knowledge on the storage, transportation, and maintenance of ammonia systems, with sessions led by experts from major organizations such as Deepak Fertilisers, United Breweries, IFFCO, and Paradeep Phosphates Limited.
A central highlight of the event was a live, coordinated mock drill simulating an ammonia tanker leakage. Organized jointly by the Directorate and local safety teams, the exercise provided hands-on training in leak detection, emergency evacuation, rescue operations, and the proper deployment of personal protective equipment. The program concluded with an interactive feedback session and the distribution of participation certificates to the attending safety professionals, engineers, and operators.