55th National Safety Day & Week Observed at Paradip Port Authority, Port Unveils Vision for Enhanced Safety and 2030 Modernization
By Pravakar Sahoo
Paradip, March 06:The 55th National Safety Day and Week celebrations commenced at Paradip Port Authority (PPA) with great enthusiasm, reaffirming the port’s commitment to strengthening safety culture and employee welfare. This year’s theme, “Engage, Educate & Empower People to Enhance Safety,” highlights the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring a safe working environment.
The programme was inaugurated by Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority, who hoisted the Safety Week Flag and administered the Safety Pledge to officers, employees, and workers of the port. On the occasion, he also flagged off a Safety Awareness Rally and “Safety Rath” from the PPA Administrative Building, which culminated at Gate No. 4 of Paradip Port, spreading awareness on safe work practices among employees and port users.
The event was graced by Shri Susil Chandra Nahak, Chief Mechanical Engineer, along with Heads of Departments (HoDs) and senior officers of PPA. The programme was coordinated by Shri A. Ramesh on behalf of M/s Chennai Radha.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman Shri P. L. Haranadh emphasized the importance of safety, health, and modernization in port operations. He highlighted the Port Authority’s strategic roadmap towards achieving 100% mechanization by 2030, which aims to modernize cargo handling systems, reduce manual intervention in high-risk areas, and enhance operational efficiency.
As part of strengthening safety infrastructure and operational discipline within the port premises, several important measures have been introduced. Two-wheelers have been restricted on primary roads used by heavy buses and cargo vehicles to minimize accident risks. In addition, improved road maintenance and regular cleaning schedules have been implemented to ensure safe movement of vehicles within the port area.
To further strengthen the safety culture, basic safety training certification has been made mandatory for all personnel, including contractual workers. The training must be completed by the end of March, failing which gate passes will not be issued.
In a significant step toward employee welfare, the Port Authority has also made annual health check-ups mandatory for all workers, including contractual staff. These medical screenings will be conducted free of cost under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of PPA, and completion of the health check-up will be mandatory for obtaining port entry passes.
During his address, the Chairman also encouraged employees and workers to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, stressing the importance of maintaining good physical health and avoiding unhygienic food habits.
As part of the week-long Safety Week celebrations, a series of awareness programmes will be conducted, including safety essay, debate, and poster competitions among employees and port users, seminars, and dock safety training programmes to promote a strong and proactive safety culture across the port community.
Paradip Port Authority continues to remain committed to ensuring safe operations, employee well-being, and modernization of port infrastructure, aligning with its vision of becoming a globally competitive and technologically advanced port.
