SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING AT HZL

Safety Town Hall was organized at Head Office, Udaipur on 1st December, 2017. The program started with a screening of a heart touching short film as a safety contact aimed at increasing awareness on importance of safety. During the program, Mr. Sunil Duggal – CEO, HZL emphasized on a re-audit of lifting & shifting practices for further improvement in rigging practices as well at Hindustan Zinc. Also present were Mr. Naveen Singhal - Director, Projects and Mr. Dilip Pattnayak - Head HR during the program along with other senior management officials.
The employees from all the units joined through 12 TP/VC and 8 webcasts. More than 2000 employees participated in the Town Hall.

SAFETY TOWN HALL AT HZL

Hindustan Zinc organized its Safety Town Hall Meeting on 23rd May, 2017 where in 13 Units, including Head Office, joined the live interaction. Mr. Sunil Duggal – CEO, Hindustan Zinc, Mr. Naveen Singhal – Director Projects and Mr. Pankaj Kumar, COO addressed about 2000 employees including the contract workers and recently joined GETs. The Town-Hall was conducted at Udaipur from the auditorium emphasising on safety both on-site & off site. The Town Hall also saw interactive session wherein several employees from each locations asked questions and gave suggestions towards improving safety.

SAFETY TOWN HALL AT CHANDERIYA SMELTING COMPLEX - 25TH MAY, 2017

"I had a wonderful interaction with Hindustan Zinc employees at Chanderiya on being-safe for themselves and their families." Sunil Duggal, CEO HZL

SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING AT HZL

Safety Town Hall Meeting was organized on 4th March, 2017 wherein all Units along with marketing offices, including Head Office joined the live interaction. Mr. Sunil Duggal - CEO, HZL, Mr. Amitabh Gupta - CFO, HZL, Mr. Naveen Singhal - Director Projects and Mr. Laxman Shekhawat - COO Mines addressed about 2000 employees and contract workers and recently joined GETs. The Town Hall was conducted from Udaipur from the auditorium emphasizing on safety both on-site & off-site. The Town Hall also saw interactive session wherein several employees from each location asked questions and gave suggestions towards improving safety.

BEING SAFE

A unique initiative - “BEING SAFE” is to bring in a sense of safety as responsibility towards employees, particularly in contract employees/families/children. Corporate Communication team has made 11 visits in Units (except Pant Nagar) along with Zinc School and has interacted with about 1500 employees/families/children overall. 4 films have been made involving our own employees and their families to focus on safety. Meditation sessions are organized post the screening of films to understand what goes inside their minds post such incidents. Along with the Safety messages and movie screening, live case studies and events are shared with the employees.
A direct on-the-spot feedback was taken from the employees which is found to be very encouraging. Many of the employees share their personal experiences beyond the boundaries of the Plant.
About 87% of employees found this informal interaction more impactful and more connecting to them. Specifically made Safety films were also appreciated by about 86% people and about 83% employees backed the essence of Safety Rules.
'Being Safe' has certainly strengthened the culture of belongingness within Hindustan Zinc. We know it is a journey that needs to be continued to achieve Zero Harm in the organization…

GLIMPSE OF BEING SAFE WORKSHOP

WHO STOLE MY HAPPINESS - BEING SAFE

A young boy was playing with a sharp knife and his father kept telling him not to do so. The stubbornness of the child made him continue with his act. His father warned him that if his finger gets cut or he gets hurt, it would be very painful. The boy was confident of managing his act. The father for once decided to let the learning be through experience this time. Suddenly, the knife fell on his feet and as expected the blood started coming and the child started crying profusely. Father rushed towards him and also the child's mother. But both stopped after walking few steps. They knew that the child though was crying, but he was safe. The learning was happening through his experience this time. The child was feeling the pain and was asking for help and promised not to repeat it in future.  

Why we often want to learn only through our own experiences, why not with experiences of others ? Why we feel that safety of others is our responsibility, when they themselves do not consider it to be their own responsibility ? Why we tend to learn only by doing mistakes ourselves, when there is enough scope of getting hurt by mistakes of others ? 

Many questions, but reply seems to be just One.. Be Safe For Your Own-Self And For Your Family. 

Safety is not just compliance or a fear or adherence, it is more to be understood as a practice and as a philosophy.

All of us have watched our mother playing with fire while making food for us. Many times she must have burnt her fingers. But have you ever tried putting your fingers on hot-plate. No.. We know the outcome would be evident.

How much scared are we when our children do not reach home after school on time. We keep peeping from the window to assess every second of delay. We often complain schools for not informing about the delays in school busses. We are scared of any untoward incident. Imagine, when we the bread-earner of the family, fail to turn up to our homes on time, or at all ? What our families go through ? What thoughts they would have in their minds ? 

We tend to advise our children to wear helmet, not to sit with a friend who does rash-driving. But when it comes to our own-self, we only tend to be liberal on our own rules. We may find many reasons to comment on how people drive, but often ignore our own families views and requests on how we ourselves drive. For us, Rules are meant to be Broken.

Accidents or incidents do not come with an appointment, they are always without invitation. But still prevention always work better than cure.

Let us assess where we are going wrong and what needs to be corrected, with a positive frame of mind. 

I don't want my safety to become someone else's responsibility, do you, when I know I can handle myself...

SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING AT HZL

Hindustan Zinc organized its 2nd Safety Town Hall Meeting on 16th July, 2016 wherein all the units of Hindustan Zinc including Head Office joined the live interaction. Mr. Sunil Duggal – CEO, HZL, Mr. Naveen Singhal – Head Projects, Mr. Vikas Sharma – COO, Smelters and Mr. Laxman Shekhawat – COO, Mines addressed about 2000 employees and contract workers along with recently joined GETs. The Town-Hall was conducted at Udaipur from the auditorium emphasizing on safety both on-site & off site. 

3rd Safety Town Hall Meeting was conducted on 25th August, 2016. Mr. Sunil Duggal – CEO, HZL, Mr. Amitabh Gupta - CFO, Mr. Vikas Sharma – COO, Smelters and Mr. Laxman Shekhawat – COO, Mines were present. The session also saw interactive session where-in several employees from each locations asked questions and gave suggestions towards improving safety.

Hindustan Zinc launched First Sustainability Report

Mr. Sunil Duggal - CEO, Mr. Naveen Singhal - Head Projects, Mr. Amitabh Gupta - CFO and Mr. Vikas Sharma - COO, Smelters released the Company's first 'Sustainability Report' on 12th August, 2016 at Yashad Bhawan Auditorium. Sustainability Reporting is one of major initiative which is the key platform for communicating sustainability performance and its impacts. HZL's Sustainability Report explores the company's Sustainability framework which integrates the triple bottom line approach of Sustainability i.e. Social, Economic and Environmental agenda with business priorities. The Four sections of the report highlights sustainability progress by mapping performance against the four pillars of Vedanta Sustainability Framework :  Zinc as CUSTODIAN,  Zinc as COMPANION, Zinc for ADDED VALUE & Zinc COMMUNIQUE. The Sustainability Report brings small and big steps that Hindustan Zinc has taken to become an exemplar of responsible business and to be the best partner in progress for all its stakeholders. The report is assured by M/s EY as per the ISAE 3000 guidelines for assurance.

HON'BLE HOME MINISTER HONOURS DEBARI RESCUE TEAM ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Zinc Smelter Debari Rescue team has been felicitated by Hon’ble Home Minister - Shri Gulab Chand Kataria and District Collector - Mr. Rohit Gupta on the eve of Independence Day i.e., 15^th August, 2016 at Gandhi Ground, Udaipur.

Hon’ble Home Minister appreciated the efforts of Rescue Team led by Mr. Mahesh Todkar - Unit Head, ZSD in arresting ammonia leakage at Ice Factory, Sunderwas Udaipur on 28th April, 2016 that had the potential to become a major disaster.

Team Members felicitated during the event were Mr. D.C. Yadav - SBU Head, Cell house, Mr. Balchand Patidar – Head Safety and Capt. Kuldeep Kumar – Head Security.

A major disaster was reported when ammonia gas leaked out of an ice factory at Sunderwas, Udaipur, a thickly populated area, which also has a petrol filling station nearby. Immediately Hindustan Zinc rescue safety team was alerted and it reached the site along-with Head-Safety, Head-Security and officials from process and administration with all rescue appliances, fire tender etc..  While on travel the matter was understood from the District Collector, Factory Inspector and Factory owner and the probable threats were assessed.

The leaking valves were shut-off immediately and isolated from the system to arrest and stop the gas leakage. Hindustan Zinc had also arranged for emergency back-up team from the Rajpura Dariba Complex (RDC) who also joined the Debari rescue team.  

The local administration, including the District Collector, Factory Inspector and other officials thanked Hindustan Zinc for this operation which had potential to become a major disaster.

As a responsible corporate Hindustan Zinc stood by its commitment to help the society.

SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING AT HZL

For retreating importance and necessity of Safety culture within the organization, Hindustan Zinc conducted a 90-minute Town-Hall Meeting for the first time on Safety on 22nd March, 2016 attended by over 2700 employees including a majority of workmen and contract workers.

The Town-Hall organized at the auditorium of Head Office, Udaipur was addressed by Senior Management comprising – Mr. Sunil Duggal - CEO, Mr. Amitabh Gupta - CFO, Mr. Naveen Singhal - Director Projects, Mr. Vikas Sharma – COO Smelters, Mr. Laxman Shekhawat – COO Mines, Mr. Dilip Pattanayak - Head HR, Mr. Ramakrishnan Kasinath – Head Commercial and Mr. V. Jayaraman – Head EOHS emphasizing on day-to-day safety on site and daily lives. Besides answering the queries of the employees, Sr. Management also invited their suggestions. CEO emphasized for immediate implementation of few actions such as regular site visit by senior management, involvement of families in safety activities, risk identification and its mitigation and involvement of workmen and contract workers to improve Safety Management System.

HINDUSTAN ZINC CELEBRATES 2 YEARS OF AAROHAN JOURNEY

Hindustan Zinc celebrated successful completion of 2 years of Aarohan journey at all units on 29th October, 2015. Several activities like skit, poster making, selfie with Aarohan, video making, safety marching, cultural program, quiz, etc. were conducted during the celebration at all locations of Hindustan Zinc. Employees and contract workers actively took part in the event.

On the occasion of Aarohan 2nd Anniversary celebration, Employee Safety Passport was also released by Mr. Manoj Soni - Corporate CSM Head for all employees which will be having records of safety related training and other skill development training undertaken by employees.

Process Safety Management is one of the pillars of Aarohan journey. It is directed toward preventing serious, process related chemical incidents that might affect plant personnel, off-zone communities, environment or result in significant loss of property or business. It involves the application of systems and controls to manufacturing processes in a way that hazards are identified, understood and controlled so that process-related injuries and incidents are prevented.

HINDUSTAN ZINC AWARDED WITH "FROST & SULLIVAN - GREEN MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AWARD 2015"

We are very pleased to inform that Hindustan Zinc’s Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelting Complex has been awarded with "Frost & Sullivan - Green Manufacturing Excellence Award 2015" in Mega Large Business. The coveted award was received by Mr. Rajesh Kundu – Location Head, Ms. Nikita Bhakta – AM (HR) and Mr. RS Rao – Executive (Process) from Hindustan Zinc’s Chanderiya Unit in a glittering event organized at Hotel Hyatt in Mumbai in May 2015.

Hindustan Zinc Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter also received "Certificate of Merit for Safety Excellence", which was received by Mr. Dilip Sharma, Executive- Safety.

HINDUSTAN ZINC AWARDED WITH "PLATTS INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP FOR BASE METALS AWARD 2015"

We are very pleased to inform that Hindustan Zinc has been awarded with "Platts Industry Leadership for Base Metals Award 2015" in a glittering event organized by Platts in London. The award was received Mr. Deepak Kumar from Vedanta’s London office on behalf of Hindustan Zinc.

This award recognizes base metals companies that have weathered the ups and downs by taking action to improve efficiency, tailor their output to meet demand, and focus on core strengths. Judges identified winners based on right decisions about investment, growth prospects and diversity in preparation for opportunities ahead.  It also included Financial Results, Innovation, Product Quality, Safety and Strategic Vision.

Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets.  Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency.  Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts’ coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets.  

HINDUSTAN ZINC - MAIL TODAY - MY SAFETY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY

MAIL TODAY | 10th MARCH, 2015

The high frequency of road accidents in India is only a testimony of ignorance and disrespect towards safety. The fact cannot be ignored that more people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world. Hindustan Zinc along with ‘Rajasthan Parivahan Nirikshak Sangh’ developed a Mobile Model for road safety education in Rajasthan.

A child of 13 years was sitting with his father on a scooter, when suddenly a car over-took from a wrong direction, forcing the father to apply instant brakes. The scooter stopped. Car went ahead without bothering. The father looked back, his son was safe and he was safe too. Both were wearing helmets, it was well tied-up and both were alert.

It is said, “a life saved, saves the lives of an entire family”. So true, when we care so much for lives of our family, how can we ignore the very basis life our own-self. When we know, we are the basis of the lives of our family.

‘Safety’ is not just a six letter-word, it actually defines the well-being of the entire society and finally a country. It is important to adopt safety as a habit rather than feel it is being imposed. We generally feel victims when safety is forced upon us, ignoring the facts that it is being implemented to only make our lives safer and our families peaceful.

Most of the time, the people are aware of the consequences of ignoring safety gadgets. Most of the time, the rules & regulations are ignored, for the sake of a casual behaviour towards safety.

It is ironical to penalize a person not wearing helmet by Police, knowing the fact that wearing helmet will protect the very same person from head-injury during an un-welcomed accident, which has all the potential to become fatal.

The high frequency of road accidents in India is only a testimony of ignorance and disrespect towards safety. The fact cannot be ignored that more people die in road accidents in India than anywhere else in the world.

“Where ignorance is the reason, education can become bliss”.

The need to educate masses about the necessity of safety and making them realize the fact that it is not just a matter of their life, it the life of their family that depends on them.

Accepting the grave need towards formulation of right strategy, and realizing its importance, common masses, opinion makers, government, corporates, NGOs, and other agencies have united in Rajasthan to develop a new method towards spreading message.

As a large corporate, Hindustan Zinc, world’s leading Zinc-Lead and Silver producer, a Vedanta Group company, has joined hands with Rajasthan Parivahan Nirikshak Sangh (RPNS) – a body affiliated to All India Federation of Motor Vehicles Department Technical Executive Officers Association, Bangalore, to spread the message through technology driven Road Safety Mobile Van.

This fully equipped Road Safety Mobile Van is equipped with the facility like LCD Projector with a projection screen of 42” (LCD TV), a high-decibel sound system with amplifier to reach large audience, laptop, digital camera etc. This Road Safety Mobile Van also has a digital inverter for power backup and is proving to be useful in villages where there are power-cuts. The method of teaching involves audio-video training sessions of 90 minutes, guidelines and educating traffic rules, behavioral training on road safety, first aid etc. The program is more of interactive nature and involves the audience through question and answer sessions. Road-safety guidelines are also distributed to audience. Special drives are also being launched in association with local police towards implementation of road safety rules.

This Road Safety Mobile Van would travel deep rural villages, schools and other areas and educate people about the road safety.

This unique Road Safety Mobile Van project has been sponsored by Hindustan Zinc under the “Rajasthan Road Safety Awareness Mission Program”.

Veerendra Singh Rathore, State President, Rajasthan Parivahan Nirikshak Sangh who is also the Project Head of Rajasthan Road Safety Education and Awareness Mission informed that “Road Safety Mobile Van” provided by Hindustan Zinc is proving to very useful. We are able to reach remote villages, schools and rural people. As the Van has video screen, we are able to show short films on road safety which is helping in making the people understand the gravity of situation.”

So far the project has reached about 100,000 people through conducting about 600 educational programs, which have resulted in decreasing the road accidents and injuries. There has been an increasing participation of employees of various small-big corporates. In district Rajsamand a success story has been drawn by witnessing 40% reduction in road accidents.

Hindustan Zinc spokesperson Pavan Kaushik informed that “Hindustan Zinc is concerned about the road safety and as a large corporate we feel we should help in spreading the message and decided to support Rajasthan Road Safety Awareness Mission Program. As part of our safety drills at all our business units, we regularly organize safety workshops which also has includes road safety, where in large number of employees participate.”

Inspired by the success of the program and its response, the Transport Department, Government of Rajasthan, is now planning to launch similar Road Safety Mobile Vans in all seven division of Rajasthan.

The success of this Rajasthan Government Model on Safety is now being replicated by other State Governments. The Transport Department of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are working towards developing ten such Road Safety Mobile Vans in their States to promote road safety education and awareness in public.

The Message is clear, safety cannot be ignored.

Ultimately, “My Safety is My Responsibility”, as my safety will also make my family safe, socially and economically.

Hindustan Zinc launches “AAROHAN” – a Safety Excellence Drive

“My Safety My Responsibility” – Safety Mascot Launched

Hindustan Zinc today announced the launch of its special safety drive "AAROHAN", a Safety Excellence Journey, in association with M/s DuPont, which is being taken as a major step towards safety of employees.

On this occasion, the company also launched its Safety Mascot that says "My Safety My Responsibility". Meaning, safety has to be embedded within every one and each one has to be responsible for following all safety norms.

Hindustan Zinc's operations are based in Rajasthan in Bhilwara where it has the world's largest zinc producing mine, at Chittorgarh where it has the world largest single location zinc smelting complex. Also at Rajsamand, the company has mines at Dariba and Sindesar Khurd and a smelting location at Dariba. Zinc-Lead mines are also located at Zawar and a smelting location at Debari in Udaipur.

M/s DuPont has been appointed to run this safety initiative which has simultaneously started at all the location of Hindustan Zinc today. The company is looking to achieve a position of 'zero harm' to the employees.  

M/s DuPont is an American company which has over 20 years of rich experience in dealing with similar programs. The company also formally announced this association today and the campaign started.

Mr. Akhilesh Joshi, the Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Zinc launched the safety drive in Chanderiya Smelting Complex, Chittorgarh where the District Collector Mr. Ravi Jain inaugurated the campaign. In Rajsamand where the company has mines and smelting complex, the District Collector - Mr. Yashwant B. Preetam launched the campaign and also present was Mr. Sunil Duggal - Chief Operating Officer of Hindustan Zinc. 


Mr. D.C. Saxena - Director General Mines and Safety launched the campaign at Rampura Agucha Mine in Bhilwara where Mr. Kabir Ghosh, Head – Technical (Mining), HZL was also present. Mr. Amitabh Gupta - Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President - Mr. H.K. Mehta of Hindustan Zinc launched the campaign at Zinc Smelter Debari and Zawar Mines respectively in Udaipur.
The CEO of Hindustan Zinc Mr. Akhilesh Joshi expressed his views on safety, "safety is our utmost priority and keeping this in mind, the company has engaged with M/s DuPont, to set newer standards of safety in the company."Also present on this occasion were senior officials of the company, federation representatives, senior officials of M/s DuPont and a number of regular and contract employees. The program also administered safety pledge by all and other activities like safety quiz, skit and exhibition.

The word "AAROHAN" has also been devised by Hindustan Zinc employees that have been finalized after an internal contest.

GREEN FOOTPRINTS OF ZINC

273.5 MW of Green Energy – 34.4 MW of power through waste heat recovery from roasters - Reduced Carbon footprint of 700,677 tCO2e per annum

Rationalisation and Innovation plays an important role in the development of any country. But as the business grows, responsibility towards the people and the surroundings also grows. It is important for the industries to adopt best environment friendly technologies for all its operations. Optimum utilisation of resources and managing the waste should be the key focus area of any industry.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company in zinc-lead-silver business and the world's largest integrated zinc producer has been the key initiator in adopting clean green technology. The company's mining and smelting operations are based on environment friendly technologies that led the plant to conserve water and energy.

The operations are working on zero discharge principle and company is putting on efforts and research for gainful utilization of waste generated at its mines, smelters and power plants. Hindustan Zinc has persistent focus on minimal impact on environment and the company practices - reduce, recycle, reuse, and reclaim policy. The Effluent Treatment Plant with Reverse Osmosis plants installed at all smelting locations is resulting in reducing fresh water foot prints of the company and also to maintain zero discharge status.

The company installed its first Adiabatic Cooling Towers (ACTs) to replace the conventional cooling towers at the cost of about 40 crores. ACTs reduce water wastage in the form of evaporation losses by almost 80% by operating in a closed circuit. This has reduced the fresh water consumption at intake.

Care for the environment is driven by the three factors – technology, people and adherence. The company has successfully completed commissioning of 273.5 MW of wind farms in two phases, located in five states of India - Gujarat (88.8 MW), Karnataka (49.40 MW), Rajasthan (88.8 MW), Maharashtra (25.5 MW) and Tamil Nadu (21 MW). The company's entire 273.5 MW capacities of wind power generation have been registered under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) program by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They produced and sold 511.4 million units of wind power to the states' grids, an increase of 52.3% as compared to FY 2012.

The concern and the participation for the conservation of the environment cannot be forced; it has to be taken up as a responsibility. The company has been successful in reducing annual average emissions of 497,209 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, by producing 536,882 MWh per year (average) equivalent amount of clean energy.

Other than wind projects, company's 9.4 MW waste heat recovery Steam Turbine Generation (STG) and 21 TPH Low Calorific Value Gas (LCV) boilers for steam generation projects are also registered under CDM. The total registered project has helped Hindustan Zinc to reduce carbon footprint by 583,685 tCO2e per annum. The company also reduced carbon footprint by 116,992 tCO2e from initiatives  other than the registered CDM projects.

Care for the environment can be done in two ways: enhancing the green belt and protecting the environment. The company's R&D efforts have materialised to utilise slag, a waste from zinc process in cement manufacturing. The fly ash which is a waste material from thermal power plant is utilised fully by cement industries. Over 1.3 million green plantation cover the company's premises. Hindustan Zinc is producing 34.4 MW of power through waste heat recovered from roasters. The company is also in the process to construct 20 million liters per day (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Udaipur. This Sewage Treatment Plant is a significant step towards conservation of water and care for environment by cleaning the Ahar River thereby improving overall health & hygiene of Udaipur city.

The company innovated the 'Cansolv Technology' in the Lead Plant at Chanderiya unit that controls SO2 emissions and converts it into Sulphuric Acid. Hindustan Zinc has also installed Tail Gas Treatment (TGT) plants at its smelters that reduce SO 2 emissions below the national standards. The technology adopted does not produce waste and effluent.

Hindustan Zinc has a state-of-the-art `Central Research & Development Laboratory (CRDL)' which was established by the company in 1976 with an objective to enhance metal recoveries, to recover values from the waste and optimise waste management.

Hindustan Zinc also adheres to the highest safety standards that also have been integrated in the people management process. It enables the company to detect and eliminate any safety risk, occupational risk or health hazards. The company through PPE compliance, structured training, safety workshops and internal & external audits is committed to have zero workplace injury. The company is working towards elimination of occupational illness through providing a workplace that is free from the occupational health risk and hygiene hazard. They (OH experts & Company doctors) pro-actively work with employees and the contractors for healthier lifestyle that enables to increase the productivity of the company and reduces absenteeism.

All the mines and the smelters are having occupational health centres where experts are present for regular health examination of the employees at the workplace. These centres also have the facilities of specific examination like blood lead level test, audiometric test, spirometry test, apart from routine tests like ECG, X-ray facilities etc.

The employees also play the important role of maintaining highest standards of corporate governance. All the employees are adhered to all the Environment, Occupational Health and Safety (EOHS) policies, contributing in protecting and conserving the environment to bring ecological balance as a part of sustainable development.