Posted By Jay Joshi
Arun,

I am simply an IOSH member, and cannot/do not represent IOSH's views. For that, you should communicate directly with IOSH rather than using this forum. IOSH has an international branch network too.

I have my own views, which in the fullness of time, may start a thread titled, "The ethics of promoting occupational health and safety in emerging economies/developing countries by safety organisations in developed countries"


There appears to be is a great scope, but there needs to be some degree of recognition of the one year full-time Advanced Diploma Course in Industrial Safety, conducted the four Labour Institutes, namely, the Central Labour Institute, Mumbai and the three Regional Labour Institutes at Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur.

For those unaware of the syllabus, the details are at:-

http://www.dgfasli.nic.in/ann_dip.htm


If one assesses the content etc, it is obvious that there is hardly any need for its holders to complete what I would describe as a lower level course, namely the "certificate level" courses from overseas based organisations.

In order to achieve recognition, it has to be a mutual (two-way) process. Unfortunately, the Central Labour Institute, Mumbai and the three Regional Labour Institutes at Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur that operate under the Directorate General, Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes under the Indian Ministry of Labour & Employment have not and are unlikely to request IOSH to do so for a variety of reasons. Even if IOSH makes an approach (but why should it?), I am not sure there will be a positive response due to the rigid beauracrcy involved.

I also understand that there are a couple of University level Bachelor of Engineering Courses that mix Chemical engineering with Safety and Fire engineering/management. These courses may meet the cognate degree requirement for GradIOSH should individual candidates supply the detailed syllabus content information as a part of their application.

Overall, there is less "demand" and I would go to the extent of stating the desire/need in India for professionals to join a professional bodies, except in the ones where it is a statutory requirement, such as accounting and legal professions.

This demand/desire drastically changes when Indian professionals seek employment overseas, primarily in the Middle East and Gulf states, but also elsewhere. The reality is that most of the projects ( or employers) are run by main/principal contractors from Europe/USA (i.e developed countries) and it becomes a "demand-supply" commercial relationship.

From an overall, unbiased perspective, there is also a need to revamp the Occupational Health and Safety System in India.

In this context the Planning Commission of India had set up a working group in April 2001 on Occupational Safety and Health under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Government of India. The terms of the group were:-

http://www.dgfasli.nic.in/wrkgroup.htm


Some reports and recommendations were published, but I presume that in the overall scheme of priorities of the Indian Government (which has been a coalition since a very long time), this is not one! ( they can be accessed via the links on the left side of the above web page)


You may be more up to date than I am regarding the detailed status of the above.

Posted By ARUN
Thank You Jay Joshi Sir for your valuable comments. I am a Post diploma Industrial Safety Graduate from RLI,Kanpur.
Once again, thank you for your response.
You are a source of inspiration for me and i salute your indepth knowledge as a safey practioner.

Regards,
Arun Joshi
Kota
INDIA

Posted By ARUN
Dear Jay Joshi

Please send your personal e-mail ID.

My E-mail ID: ARUNJOSHIUS@YAHOO.COM

Sorry for disturbing you.

Regards,
Arun Joshi
Kota
INDIA

Posted By ARUN
My friend with Indian Origin Jay Joshi is a chemical engineering graduate from LIT,Nagpur,India.Mr.Jay Joshi worked with GSFC in Vadodara ,India for 10 Yrs. Now he resides in UK but still i feel that his heart beats for India. I have big respect for IOSH or BSC as safety institutions empouring industries to control industrial accidents and mishaps by adopting best safety practices.

I am here in IOSH forum just to have an international flavour of H&S practices and learning peoples mind working in H&S field.
Hats off for Mr.Jay Joshi for nurturing indianness in his soul even after so many years of migrating from India but now Jay should also understand that India is growing it is not that same India 17 yrs. ago when Jay left India. Now India is among three superpowers having their satellites landed on Moon.World's largest grassroot refinery Reliance Industries Ltd., is in Jamnagar,India.
India is now superpower. Our Health & Safety courses run by indian regional labour institutes are at par or better than NEBOSH or British safety council courses. So east or west INDIA is the best.

Posted By Jay Joshi
Arun,

You need to calm down! I have never claimed that India is superior or a super-power etc.

The reality is that there is a global dimension to many activities and there is a need to have mutual respect and understanding without a sense of either superiority or inferiority on any side.

It could be based on some form of partnership with Indian counterparts such as the National Safety Council of India so that capacity building of such institutions in India can be enhanced.

At the same time, we have to be pragmatic to recognise that on whilst one hand there are some world class private sector and government sector organisations based in India practicing excellence, there is a lot to be desired and to be done to upgrade both occupational health & safety and public and transportation safety.

The state of occupational health and safety in the unorganised sector in India leaves a lot to be desired.

The reason I continued that particular thread (SoH) was that I do not see any problem if you or any organisation based in an emerging economy/developing country is making an informed choice/decision regarding products and services being marketed by overseas based organisations.


What I feel strongly against and in my personal view is un-ethical is to market/promote products and services knowingly with the primary objective of making profits (as emerging economies and developing countries tend to be potentially huge markets)under the guise of being a safety organisation and making exaggerated claims that cannot be subtaintaited.

I could access the details of the 32nd session of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India's Tripartite Committee on ILO conventions dated 25th February 2009. It is obvious that from a statutory and enforcement perspective, India has a huge mountain to climb when you compare the overall state of the Indian "Occupational Health and Safety System" with most of the mature ones in developed countries.

http://labour.nic.in/ilas/32coc/Attachment.pdf


There is a lot share, but in my view it should be with mutual understanding and respect.