Copper Mining in India

Md. Asif Daiyan
Sr. Mining Engineer

Introduction
A safety program is not something i.e. imposed on company organization. Safety must be built in every operation or product design and into every process. It must be an integral part of company operation.
The prevention of accidents and injuries is basically achieved through control of working environment and control of people’s actions. And, only management can implement such control. A Company that has an effective safety program will have a working environment in which operation can be conducted economically, efficiently and safely.

What is OTJS?
Off-the-Job Safety (OTJS) involves employees, and is a term used by employers to designate that part of their safety program directed to the employee when he is not at work.

Aim of the OTJS
The principal aim of the OTJS (Off-the-Job Safety) is not to get an employee to follow the same safe practices in his outside activities as he uses on the job.
Previous records indicate, however, that many individuals tend to leave their safety training at the workplace when they go home. Therefore, OTJ safety should not be a separate program, but rather an extension of a company’s on the job safety program.

Why OTJ safety should be conducted?
One of the basic reasons for a company to become involved in OTJ safety is – Manpower. While companies now have a legal responsibility to prevent injuries on the job, they have a moral responsibility to try to prevent injuries away from the job. All injuries are a waste of a valuable resource i.e. People, who directly or indirectly involved in running an organization.
The other reason for an OTJ Safety program is – Cost. Operating costs and production schedules are affected as much when employees are injured away from work as when they are injured on the job.
Although, accidents occur off the job, a large part of the cost is borne by employers. Some cost is paid directly in the form of wages to absent workers and the cost of hiring and training of replacement workers. Some of the cost is hidden, e.g. a skilled machine operator or tool maker injured off the job may not be replaced immediately. Their absence may result in production loss and directly or indirectly loss of company. Some of the cost is hidden even deeper, although it is still very real. As accidents in a community increase, so do insurance costs, taxes and welfare contributions. Probably, no company is fully aware of all the costs that results from OTJ accidents and the impact have on operations and profits.
Promoting OTJ
There is nothing special about the techniques for promoting OTJ safety. The same principles and techniques used to put across safety on the job are employed. From a safety standpoint, operating power tools at home is the same as operating the same equipment at work; driving the family car or two wheeler is the same as operating the same as driving the company vehicle.
A company does have to depend more on education and persuasion to get its message across, because once an employees leaves his Mines, Plant, Office or Job-site he is on his own and the supervision factor is no longer available. An employee must realize that accidents do not always happen to other people.
The approach to OTJ safety shouldn’t be negative – “Don’t do this” or “Don’t participate in that activity” – but positive. i.e. done by pointing out that any activity can be performed safely if the employee only thinks through the activity. First, find out what hazards are involved, take instruction if needed and uses the correct procedure and equipment.
An important element of OTJ safety programming is to keep the activities seasonal. Generally employees are more receptive to subjects when they coincide with their normal routine. ………………………………
Another important element in OTJ safety programming is to help available in community i.e. particularly true for recreational activities. Hospital, Police, Fire, Road & transport departments have proven to be of valuable assistance in promoting OTJ safety. Most of these departments have materials that can be distributed; some have speakers and films available for company meetings. All can serve as sources of ideas for activities.
A company doesn’t necessarily need actually to conduct activities itself to have an effective OTJ safety effort. One important way to promote OTJ safety is to encourage employees to take advantage of Life saving classes, Defensive driving classes, First aid courses and other available in the community. The same method used to sell safety on the job can be also be used to sell safety of the job – viz. meetings, a company magazine, bulletin board, notices, films, displays and posters.

Benefits of OTJ safety
There are three benefits a company can realize from expanding its safety program to include OTJ safety.
It is a reduction in lost production, time and operating costs from both on and off the job injuries.
Efforts in OTJ safety have produced an increased interest by employees in their on the job safety program.
The third benefit, often overlooked, is that of better public relations.

Conclusion
The aim of safety education is changing the employee’s attitude, is especially true for OTJ safety. No asset is more important to a company than the employees. They should be protected not only during working hours, but also be given every incentive to be safe off the job.

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