At DCM Shriram, we are committed to Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) and conduct our operations and activities with utmost care and in the most responsible manner. We believe EHS as a value to our business sustainability and continually stressed and extensively promote as a part of our corporate culture.
We believe that our corporate business philosophy integrates Environment Health and Safety (EHS) initiatives with societal development and wealth creation for all our stakeholders ensures long term sustainability of our enterprise. There is strong element of EHS and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) embedded into the value system of our Company.
We view highest standard of Corporate Governance, a value to be institutionalized into the corporate culture. The primary objective is to create and adhere to a corporate culture of transparency, fairness, accountability and ethical practices, thereby creating superior value for all the stakeholders. We are conscious of the fact that we strive for economic growth, we have a responsibility to protect the natural environment and be responsive to the society. We have implemented best Environment, Health and Safety practices to ensure safe and environmentally friendly operations. We are committed to make a sustainable difference to the society we serve, and have taken up various initiatives to develop the societies around all our business areas. Engagement with surrounding communities has been undertaken during the year on continual basis. Some of the examples are building basic infrastructure for multi-stakeholder projects under mid-day meal scheme, making safe drinking water accessible to neighbouring communities, supporting construction of educational facilities etc. With the objective to sensitize suppliers and vendors on sustainability issues, the Company developed a new vendor evaluation system, which includes issues related to EHS. The system is implemented to get feedback from the vendors and more widespread use to get the value in the supply chain. Health, Safety and well being of employees are of significant importance to us. Accordingly, through an on-going program we have embarked upon the journey to improve our safety practices and system through capacity building and institutionalizing best practices.
Care for the Environment is one of our core corporate focus and, as a part of this commitment, we enunciated our EHS Policy that reiterates our commitment for the creation of a safe and healthy workplace and a clean environment for employees and the community. It aims for the highest standards of EHS in plant design, equipment selection, maintenance and operations. The implementation of the EHS Policy is ensured by line managers through a robust EHS Management System, adequately supported by a well-defined organizational structure. It is overall responsibility of Strategic Business Unit (SBUs) heads and Unit heads to ensure implementation of EHS policy and corporate standards on EHS including formation of committees and designating individuals for specific responsibilities.
A Whole Time Director (EHS) at corporate level is responsible for reviewing the performance of each unit, extending guidance and issuing directions, as necessary, to all units for EHS compliances and improving the EHS performance on continual basis.
Besides laying down guidelines on systems, policy and training, Corporate EHS monitors compliance as well as maintains and disseminates information on laws and regulations. EHS performance is periodically reviewed at Site, Business and corporate levels to monitor the progress of EHS strategy and improvement plans.
The key EHS processes comprise regular safety surveillance, inspections and audits; permit to work system for operational/maintenance safety; fire prevention and protection activities; operation of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP)/Incinerator; disposal activities related to hazardous wastes; and regular monitoring of the environment, internally and also through Government recognised laboratories. Monthly reports address EHS initiatives; compliance and various records under statutory requirements; training of employees; interaction with associations and adjacent communities; and observance or celebration of National Safety Day, National Fire Safety Day and World Environment Day, World Biodiversity Day among others, in order to promote EHS awareness amongst employees at all levels to build a strong EHS culture.
We have made our existing manufacturing facilities safer by providing extensive instrumented safety protection systems through DCS operated system and all efforts are made to incorporate safety features in the basic design of all new projects. The Company has integrated EHS management in its business plans. As a result, right from the conceptual stage of each project, EHS aspects are incorporated. All capital investment proposals are cleared with an EHS assessment and necessary EHS investments are included accordingly.
Investments have been made in process improvements as well as up-gradation of effluent treatment plants, using membrane based technologies, multi-effect thermal evaporators and Slop fired boilers. These measures have helped to reduce the environmental burden. With these equipment installed at our Distillery site for recycling of the treated effluents, we have been able to achieve the status of “zero liquid discharge”.
The main goals set in the area of environment management are as under:
We accord the highest priority to hygiene monitoring at work place and health examination of all employees at our manufacturing units. Necessary training is regularly imparted to employees to enhance their awareness in EHS related matters.
