New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSHWC Code) and the Social Security Code, 2020 recently introduced by the government, are set to significantly enhance the safety and welfare of workers within the petroleum sector.

According to an official statement, these new labour codes integrate petroleum facilities, refineries, and fuel depots under a cohesive national safety framework and established welfare measures.

The OSHWC Code demands a systematic approach to hazard identification and risk assessment, requiring governmental approval prior to the initiation of hazardous operations.

Additionally, it sets forth national standards for the handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of petroleum materials. The code has also integrated risk-based inspections, safety audits, emergency command structure participation, and digital compliance platforms akin to those employed by leading global oil and gas companies.

The government emphasized that the protections for workers have been significantly improved, as the code mandates pre-employment, periodic, and post-exposure health assessments, alongside complimentary annual medical check-ups for all workers engaged in hazardous petroleum tasks.

Furthermore, the code stipulates competency-based training and certification prior to a worker handling petroleum or hazardous substances.

Employers are required to provide, maintain, and train their workforce, ensuring fatigue management through an 8-hour limit on shifts, which is a crucial safeguard for continuous-process facilities, as per the statement.

The Social Security Code, 2020 further strengthens welfare initiatives by extending Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage to petroleum workplaces, which facilitates medical care, injury compensation, disability and dependent benefits, and maternity protection for occupational diseases and accidents.

Digital social-security and health records promise portability, transparency for beneficiaries, and accountability.

The government noted that these codes transition the petroleum sector's safety approach from a reactive compliance-heavy model to a forward-thinking, prevention-oriented, technology-driven, and welfare-focused framework.

These provisions are anticipated to bolster operational discipline, workforce capabilities, emergency preparedness, medical monitoring, regulatory clarity, and coordination, as highlighted in the statement.