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The National Safety Week is observed every year in India on 4th March. It is observed to highlight the importance of Safety in all spheres of life so as to prevent mishaps and accidents resulting out of neglect or lack of awareness. National Safety Week was earlier known as National Safety Day. National safety day is celebrated on 4th march because on this day National Safety Council (NSC) of India was established. NSC is an apex non-profit making, tripartite body (involving 3 divisions), registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950. It has been setup to educate and influence society to adopt appropriate policies, practices and procedures for preventing and reducing human suffering and economic loss arising from all types of accidents.

National Safety Day History

The initiative to observe such a day was taken up by National Safety Council of India. NSC was set up by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India on 4th March 1966, as an autonomous body to generate, develop and sustain a voluntary movement on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level. As an honour for such a noble cause, the foundation day of NSC was decided to be celebrated as National Safety Day in 1972. It was soon converted into a week-long event and was thus called National Safety Week (NSW).

It was in 1962 during the 22^nd Labour Ministers' Conference that a decision to convene a Conference on 'Safety in Factories' was considered. Along with it the setting up a National Safety Council for conducting a campaign on accident prevention was also considered. Then in 1965 ‘The President's first Conference on Industrial Safety’ was organised in Delhi from 11th to 13th December, 1965 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (GOI) in cooperation with the State Governments, Employers' Organisations, Trade Unions and Institutions concerned. In the conference there was consensus amongst all concerned on setting up National and State Safety Councils. The 24th Session of the Standing Labour Committee accepted the proposal concerning the constitution of the National Safety Council (NSC) in February, 1966. Thus NSC was set up on 4th March, 1966 by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India. It was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and subsequently, as a Public Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.

Safety Week Activities and Events

NSW has significantly contributed to reduction in the rate of industrial accidents and created wide spread safety awareness even in such sectors which have not been covered by any safety legislation. The campaign is comprehensive, general and flexible with an appeal to the participating organisations to develop specific activities as per their safety requirements.

Various activities undertaken on this day are:

• Poster and banner making to promote safety are displayed in strategic locations.
  
  
• Administration of safety pledge by the students.
  
  
• Unfurling of the NSD Flag in institutions.
  
  
• Pinning of the NSD badge on guests on the occasion.
  
  
• Safety competitions including- essay, slogans, housekeeping, safety performances, safety suggestions, exhibitions.
  
  
• Training programmes/workshops/seminars.
  
  
• Screening of safety films in schools and colleges.
  
  
• Community awareness programmes amongst others.

Safety Week Ideas : Ideas for observing Safety Day can be taken from the activities mentioned above.

Alternate Name - National Safety Day

Holiday Status - It is not a Holiday.