Vision Zero Rating System India

Objectives

The ‘Vision Zero Rating System India (VZ-RSI) is a comprehensive tool for assessing the OSH performance and enhancing occupational safety, health and wellbeing. The system shall be non-profitable and self-sustainable. The aim of the rating system is to motivate and support manufacturing (ginning, spinning, weaving, readymade garments) and construction sites in developing a ‘Pro OSH Culture’ for achieving Vision Zero.

The project contributes towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 8 to protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment. Furthermore, it promotes the responsibility of business enterprises to respect human rights by avoiding causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities, and addressing such impacts when they occur.

According to the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, advice, experience-sharing and coordinated measures help to pool resources and contribute to the creation of a global level playing field with respect to the protection of human rights. The global prevention strategy Vision Zero is based on worldwide best practices and offers advice, experience-sharing and coordinated measures. The VZ-RSI offers a national instrument for the identification and prevention of risks.

The assessment process of VZ-RSI

The process of assessment for rating has two stages.

Stage-1

In the first stage information is gathered through a structured questionnaire- ‘Compliance Assessment Questionnaire’ (CAQ) pertaining to the specific manufacturing/construction site. The CAQ collects administrative and technical data including cost of the project, manpower engagement, time schedules, approvals of different competent authorities, etc. Participation in stage-1 is free of charge.

The assessment of the site is made on the basis of level of compliance of the acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems in the country. The safety performance is evaluated in terms of number of accidents (number of fatal/non-fatal reportable accidents, near miss incidents) and its assessment in the light of national average frequency rate.

The questionnaire collects the information pertaining to safety, health and environment monitoring.

Information is also collected pertaining to applicable accreditation systems such as Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management System (ISO 45001), Environmental Management System -EMS (ISO 14001), Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health Audit (IS 14489), Quality Management System (ISO 9001), etc., in India.

Information submitted by the manufacturing plants and construction sites through the Compliance Assessment Questionnaire will be processed.

The validity of the information submitted will be verified (if committee recommends) with the concerned agencies and authorities and if no adversities found in the compliance of the acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems existing in the country.

In case the site fails in qualifying in the stage-1, it will not be allowed to proceed for stage-2. In case a site is willing to improve occupational safety, health and wellbeing, the site will be provided on-line/off-line consultancy sessions for improvements.

Stage-2

The manufacturing and construction sites after qualifying the stage-1, will be allowed to proceed for submitting the information through ‘Vision Zero Rating Questionnaire’ (VZ-RQ) along with a processing fee (Rs. 30,000/-). At the time of submission of the duly filled in VZ-RQ, the manufacturing plant/construction site will be required to submit the processing fee.

The VZ-RQ is based on the 7 Golden Rules, viz., leadership to demonstrate commitment; identification of hazards for controlling risks; define targets and develop programmes for achieving them; ensure a safe and healthy system through a well-organised approach; ensuring safe and healthy machines, equipment and workplaces; and developing competence by improving qualifications.

The VZ-RQ thus submitted will pass through a four -step evaluation process.

Step-1: Administrative Scrutiny
Step-2: Technical Scrutiny
Step-3: Technical Assessment
Step-4: Final assessment and award of Rating

Criteria for Grant of Rating

Rating	Grade	Explanation
	Fair	Site has complied with all the mandated /classified as essential under the applicable acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems, and no prosecutions, penalties imposed and notices received during the assessment year.
	Good	Site has complied with all the mandated /classified as essential under the applicable acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems, and no prosecutions, penalties imposed and notices received during the assessment year. Site has made efforts towards implementing VZ-7 Golden Rules during the assessment year.
	Very Good	Site has complied with all the mandated /classified as essential under the applicable acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems, and no prosecutions, penalties imposed and notices received during the assessment year. Site has successfully operationalised VZ-7 Golden Rules during the assessment year.
	Excellent	Site has complied with all the mandated /classified as essential under the applicable acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems, and no prosecutions, penalties imposed and notices received during the assessment year and immediate past assessment year. Site has successfully operationalised VZ-7 Golden Rules during the current and immediate past assessment year.
	Exemplary	Site has complied with all the mandated /classified as essential under the applicable acts, rules and regulations, standards and applicable systems, and no prosecutions, penalties imposed and notices received during the assessment year and immediate past assessment year. Also, the site has performed as facilitator for implementing VZ-Rating System on other sites, too, involving their OSH professionals employed with them.

Target Groups

The target groups of the VZ-RSI are

(including apparel) manufacturing plants
Construction sites.

Partners

The multi-stakeholder project (MSP) will include the following stakeholders: the German Social Accident Insurance, DGUV (in collaboration with the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the building trade, BG BAU), the German Embassy of India, the Indo-German Network of Business and Human Rights and Dr. Singh.

DGUV is the umbrella association of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions. DGUV aims to

prevent occupational accidents and diseases through safety equipment, education and health care facilities.
protect through compensation involving accident and occupational related diseases.
provide care through rehabilitation measures and return to work.

The Indo-German Network of Business and Human Rights was established by the German Embassy in cooperation with the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) and other partners and is working on structures to aid companies in implementing the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which also apply to German subsidiaries in India.

Dr. Singh is the former Director General and Chief Inspector Dock Safety, Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), which is an attached office of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India and serves as technical arm in formulating national policies on occupational safety and health in factories and ports and docks.

Context

The manufacturing and construction industries are two of the biggest employers in India after the agricultural sector. Both industries are mostly unorganized, employing large no of female, informal migrant workers. These characteristics make them more vulnerable in general and specifically with respect to occupational accidents and diseases.

Industrial accidents are definite contributors to occupational injuries and preventable deaths and disabilities. The formal sector which comprises only 3% of total industries is required to report accidents but rest of the informal sector is mostly under-reporting the accidents.

Injuries put huge financial burden on the deprived industrial workers. Aside from hospitalization and treatment expenses, injuries also lead to rehabilitation cost. Injuries lead to poor quality of work-life and have long-term psycho-social impacts. Although there are enough laws to compensate injured workers and their families but they cover only a small segment of workers.

The construction sector in India continues to grow unprecedentedly. While it contributed 9% to India’s GDP in 2017, the government expects it to contribute 13% by 2025. At the same time the working conditions in the Indian construction sector remain deplorable. Most workers have limited or no access to basic shelter, food, sanitation, safety and health care.

Fatal accidents in the Indian construction sector are estimated to range between 11,614 to 22,080, constituting more than 24% of the total number of occupational accidents in the country. The most frequent accident causes in the construction sector in India are falling from a height, falling from scaffoldings and building collapses.

Apart from accidents, construction workers are at risk of getting occupational diseases, including dermatitis, asbestosis, silicosis, muscular skeletal disorder, respiratory diseases.

Guidelines

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are a set of guidelines for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations. They were proposed by UN Special Representative on business & human rights John Ruggie, and endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011. In the same resolution, the UN Human Rights Council established the UN Working Group on business & human rights.

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