Port Wings News Network:
The Valedictory function of the 52nd Safety Week was celebrated in V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, on 13 March 2023. Shri R. Prabakar, Traffic Manager, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, welcomed the gathering and presented the Annual Safety Report.
The Chief Guest of the valedictory function, Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, in his address, stated that ‘awareness on safety should be inculcated at young age, so that, they are prudently aware of basic safety habits and can certainly contribute to create a stronger safety culture’.
He congratulated the winners of the various competitions and distributed the prizes to the winners of various competitions. He also handed over 52 saplings to be planted to mark the 52nd Safety Week, to the Port’s Environment Cell and also to the participants of the function to mark the Environment Safety. He also congratulated the Traffic Department for successfully conducting various programmes during the Safety Week Celebration and insisted all the officials of the Port and the stakeholders to inculcate the Safety Culture in every sphere of Port activity and move towards achieving the theme “Our Aim – Zero Harm”.
Felicitation was offered by Shri Brijendra Kumar, Assistant Director, Dock Safety. The Valedictory function concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri T. Ramesh, Sr. Deputy Traffic Manager, VOC Port Authority.
To mark the National Safety Day on 04.03.2023, Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, hoisted the Safety flag and administered the Safety pledge to all the officials of the Port and Stakeholders.
On 06.03.2023, the Safety Week commenced with the flagging-off of Walkathon by Shri Bimal Kumar Jha, Deputy Chairman, VOC Port, wherein more than 500 staff of the Port and stakeholders participated. To Create safety Awareness among the general public, mobile skits were performed at various locations of Thoothukudi town. Shri R. Prabakar, Traffic Manager, VOC Port, released the Safety Handbook.
As a part of the weeklong Safety Week Celebrations from 06.03.2023 to 13.03.2023, the Port organised a series of competitions like Essay writing, Slogan writing, Drawing Competitions for the Port employees, School Students & Port Users, on the theme ‘Serve Society with a preventive culture and scientific state of mind by organizing a Safety approach’. Safety awareness training programme were conducted for officials of the Port and Stevedores. A one-day Safety Awareness Training was conducted for drivers, cleaners, and Heavy / Cargo handling equipment operators. During the one-day road safety campaign, activities like distribution of Safety Awareness pamphlets, pasting of Head light dot stickers & Safety reflective stickers were carried out at the Port’s Tollgate, Greengate, Zone -B, and Truck Parking Terminal.
On 08.03.2022, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority bagged the National Safety Award instituted by the Directorate General, Factory Advice, Safety and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, for Accident Free Year & Lowest Average Frequency Rate for Port operation.
Proper implementation of the safety procedures has ensured that the Port is accident free- zero fatality Port since oct 2019 and will strive to be the safest Port in the country.