National Safety Day 2023 – History, Objective & Celebration

National Safety Day is observed to understand and highlight the importance of safety and to reduce the rate of accidents on enterprise, state, and national levels. It aims to raise awareness about safety regulations in various sectors, as it is a matter of life and death. Stephen Covey once said, “If you put good people in bad systems, you get bad results. You have to water the flowers you want to grow.” Safety is a great concern in many sectors, and this campaign helps develop a safety culture by educating one and all. Continue reading to familiarise yourself with National Safety Day and its objectives.

What Is National Safety Day, and When Is It Observed?

National Safety Day is observed on 4^th March every year to disseminate awareness about safety to prevent accidents, especially in the sectors that are not covered by any safety regulations. It encourages industries to educate, participate, and contribute in various ways that promote SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment). It also helps the less-informed to educate themselves on safety protocols in their industrial sectors.

History of National Safety Day

National Safety Day marks the establishment of the National Safety Council, formed to create a sustainable safety system across various sectors by increasing awareness to prevent mishaps. Although the council was founded in 1965, it was only in 1972 that National Safety Day was organised for the first time. Ever since then, the day has been observed and celebrated every year by industries, regulatory agencies, institutions, NGOs, and the government. With time, the campaign was no longer limited to a day, and several educational and promotional programs are conducted throughout the week of 4^th March.

What Is the National Safety Council?

The National Safety Council is an autonomous body formed to develop and support the SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) movement. It was set up by the Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment in 1965. It aims to serve society by creating a preventive culture, scientific mindset, and an organised way to address issues about people’s safety.

Let’s learn a little more about these objectives.

Objectives of National Safety Day

The objectives of National Safety Day help develop a sustainable safety culture across all sectors in India. Here’s what they aim to do:

• To disseminate knowledge about the SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) movement and encourage participation on individual and industrial levels.
• To promote safety culture development through self-compliance activities and SHE management systems at professional levels through planning and auditing.
• To encourage employers and employees to responsibly make their workplaces safer.
• To create an outreach program to educate individuals, enterprises, and governments to develop a sustainable safety culture.

Theme for National Safety Day, 2023

Every year, the National Safety Council of India (NSC) chooses a theme to celebrate the occasion in an organised manner. Recent year themes have been: “Our Aim – Zero Harm“(2023),“Nurture Young Minds, Develop Safety Culture”(2022), “Learn From Disaster and Prepare for a Safer Future” (2021), “Enhance Health & Safety Performance by Use of Advanced Technology” (2020), “Cultivate and sustained a safety culture for building nation” (2019) and “Reinforce Positive Behaviour at the Workplace to Realise Safety and Health Goals” (2018)

This year marks the 51st year of National Safety Day. The occasion continues to grow and be celebrated by several educational institutions, work organisations, NGOs, and regulatory agencies.

National Safety Day – Activities

There are several ways by which National Safety Day can be observed. Here are some of them:

• Conduct or attend specialised training, seminars, workshops, conferences, or community awareness programs on safety in different sectors.
• Encourage consultancy studies, such as hazard evaluation, safety audits, emergency management planning, and risk assessments.
• Develop and implement a plan to promote the SHE ((Safety, Health, and Environment) movement.
• Join campaigns to promote safety culture on enterprise, state, and national levels.
• Share verified knowledge about existing safety policies, and recommend changes.
• Organise emergency drills and exhibitions.
• Organise and participate in contests that promote the SHE movement.

National Safety Day for Kids

Understanding the importance of safety and National Safety Day early on is crucial. Kids are the future of the country. If the motive of observing the day is brought to their notice early in their lives, we can hope for a greater impact. Here are some important points you can use to educate your little one about National Safety Day.

• National Safety Day was first observed on 4^th March, 1972. It is celebrated on 4^th March every year ever since.
• It marks the establishment of the National Safety Council, a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1965.
• National Safety Day is observed to highlight the importance of safety and hygiene measures that everyone should adopt in their lifestyles.
• The National Safety Council actively works on domestic safety, road safety, environment safety, and travel safety in India.
• National and state governments observe National Safety Day across the country.
• Kids can attend training, workshops, and seminars on safety, or volunteer to conduct exhibitions and educational programs to share their knowledge with others.

A safe environment is a productive and happy environment. Assessing safety guidelines, revising them as needed, and implementing them are important for developing a safety culture. Let’s do our bit this National Safety Day, and contribute towards the SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) movement.

Also Read:

Baby Safety Month – History and Importance