JSW Steel Odisha mining division holds tripartite safety review, flags safety tech and women workforce targets
By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, Sept 9: JSW Steel’s Odisha Mining Division has set a target of increasing women’s participation in its mining workforce from the current 9 per cent to 30 per cent, while stepping up the use of digital technologies to strengthen workplace safety.
The target was outlined at the Tripartite Safety Review Meeting 2026 in Bhubaneswar, attended by senior company executives, Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) officials, employees and other stakeholders.
The company said its Odisha Mining Division has maintained a zero-fatality record, with no fatal or major accidents reported over the last five years.
Sauvick Mazumder, COO, JSW Steel, Mining, said the company was committed to increasing women’s participation in mining and ensuring a safe working environment for them.
“We are now at 9 per cent and aim to increase it to 30 per cent. We deeply value the suggestions from DGMS and our employees, and all inputs will be seriously considered and implemented,” Mazumder said.
He said safety remained a non-hierarchical priority for the company, with inputs from employees and regulatory authorities receiving equal importance.
The meeting also showcased the division’s efforts to deploy digital solutions for improving operational safety. Ram Shankar Sharma, Head–Operations & Projects, JSW Steel Odisha Mining Division, presented an overview of mining operations and safety practices and introduced WISE (Web-enabled Illumination Surveying Equipment), a digital solution developed by the division to strengthen illumination safety standards across mining areas.
The system is designed to facilitate systematic monitoring of illumination levels and enable timely corrective measures wherever deficiencies are detected.
Prasanna Panda, Business Head, JSW Steel Odisha Mining Division, said the company’s safety systems were underpinned by a culture of continuous improvement and a strong focus on employee well-being.
DGMS officials appreciated the division’s consistent safety performance and stressed the need for continuous employee preparedness. Shyam Sundar Prasad, Deputy Director General, DGMS, emphasised regular CPR training and retraining for employees to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
He also called for greater participation of women in mining and stressed that their safety must remain an integral part of sustainable and inclusive growth.
The meeting reviewed action points from the 2025 Tripartite Safety Meeting, progress on recommendations of the 12th National Safety Conference and suggestions from workmen to strengthen ground-level safety practices.
The participants reiterated the need to maintain high safety benchmarks while integrating technology, employee participation and workforce diversity into mining operations.
