5 Feb : Aimed at securing health and safety of workers, the government on Thursday approved the National Policy on Health and Environment at workplace."It provides general guidelines for all the stakeholders such as the governments, inspection authorities, employers, research and development institutions and educational institutions for developing a safety culture and environment at workplaces," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a Cabinet meeting at New Delhi on Thursday.
He said the policy envisaged actions for improving safety, health and environment at workplace by providing for statutory framework, system incentives, administrative and technical support, preventions strategies and their monitoring.
Besides, it would also include safety and health environment aspects in other related national policies, he added.Chidambaram also said there would be an action programme comprising development of standards and codes of practice, encouraging compliance, increasing awareness, promoting knowledge, skill developments and research and development and providing financial and non-financial incentives.
The provisions of the policy would be reviewed every five year, if necessary, he added.