Restarting Manufacturing Industries Post Lockdown: MHA Issues Detailed Guidelines Regarding Employee Safety

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently issued detailed guidelines under the Disaster Management Act 2005, for manufacturing industries restarting operations after the lockdown period. The guidelines have especially been devised keeping in view the deadly gas leak in Vizag took place reportedly due to negligence during the lockdown.

“When Lockout/Tagout procedures are not in place, many energy sources can prove to be hazardous to operators/supervisors who are servicing or maintaining electrical, mechanical, or chemical equipment. When heavy machinery and equipment are not maintained periodically, they can become dangerous for the operators/engineers,” said the circular from MHA.

MHA Guidelines to Ensure Employee Safety While Restarting Operations after Lockdown

In order to ensure employee safety, minimize risk, and encourage a successful restart of the industrial units after the lifting of lockdown in India, the following guidelines have been issued by MHA:

1. While restarting the industrial unit, the first week should be considered as the trial or test run period to ensure all safety protocols. High production targets must not be a priority initially,
2. Employees must be made aware of abnormalities like strange sounds or smell, exposed wires, vibrations, leaks, smoke, abnormal wobbling, irregular grinding, or other potentially hazardous signs, which indicate the need for immediate maintenance or if required shutdown.
3. Industries must ensure that all lockout and tagout procedures must be in place on a daily basis.
4. All the safety protocols must be checked prior to restarting a unit.

Guidelines to Protect Employees from COVID-19 Infection Post Lockdown

1. Factory premises must be sanitized every 2 to 3 hours to ensure worker safety and prevent the spread of contamination.
2. Temperature checks of all employees should be done twice a day, and those showing symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed to report to work.
3. Usage of gloves, masks, and hand sanitizers must be ensured at all factories and manufacturing units.
4. SOPs of social distancing must be followed, and staff should work one shift at 33 percent capacity.
5. Workers involved in dealing with hazardous material must be skilled and experienced in the field.
6. Upon discovering a positive case, factories have to prepare accommodation to isolate workers, if needed.