Artificial Intelligence should be used in disaster management for saving lives: Executive Director, NIDM

New Delhi: Major General M K Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM, yesterday said, “There is a need for some concrete measures for industrial safety by creating a connectivity between onsite & offsite plans. Automation should be the norm of the day. The country needs more mock drills so that best practices may be followed to avoid the loss of human lives.”

Speaking at a webinar on ‘Industrial Safety – Coping with The New Normal’, organized by FICCI, jointly with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), under the aegis of FICCI’s flagship initiative Chemical & Industrial Disaster Management (CIDM), Major General Bindal said, “Artificial Intelligence can be used to save lives in the process of disaster management efforts.”

Lt Gen (Dr) J R Bhardwaj, Chairman, Chemical & Industrial Disaster Management Board (CIDM) highlighted on the measures needed to create a culture of safety post COVID-19.

Dr R K Elangovan, Director General, DGFASLI, GoI said “robust onsite & offsite emergency planning shall be made available in the factories. The emergency team leaders, team members, equipment & facilities should also be available in the factory as per the approved emergency plan.”

Mr Lalit Gabhane, Director General, National Safety Council (NSC) said that safety audit is a proactive approach. “We must do safety audits which is relevant to Business. Pre Start-up audit is going to play a very important role” he said.

Dr Rajan Sharma, Vice President and Head HSE, Glenmark pharmaceuticals said, “The workforce dynamics has also changed dramatically in the world.”

Mr Mahesh Chandak, Head of HSE – South Asia & HSE, Business Partner for Crop Science, Bayer said, “It’s a good idea to encourage employees to work from home through the lockdown phase.”

Mr Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI said, “Proper safety precautions will be the new normal. Online sharing of experience is extremely valuable for the Safety of Chemical Industries.”

The webinar attended by over 500 industries, academia, central & state government officials from across the country.