Sectoral safety bodies without statutory backing risk becoming advisory forums. Discuss with reference to industrial safety governance in India.

India's industrial safety law is the OSH Code, 2020, which replaced 13 central labour laws [3]. The Ministry of Steel has set up a new Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC) by an executive decision, not by an Act [1]. It brings specialist knowledge, but without statutory backing it risks remaining advisory.

Why the risk is real

• No binding force: The 25 steel safety guidelines of 2020 were only uploaded "for adoption", and industry was merely "urged" to follow them [2]. SISC standards also do not become law just because the SISC approves them [1].
• The rule-writer is not the enforcer: The SISC's directorate (SISD) audits plants and investigates incidents [1]. The power to prosecute stays with inspectors under the OSH Code and State rules [3]. Because labour is in the Concurrent List, enforcement is split between the Centre and the States.
• Data gaps: The Ministry told Parliament that it keeps no accident data for private steel plants [4]. Without compulsory reporting, the near-miss mandate depends on firms choosing to disclose.
• Conflict of interest: CEOs of integrated steel producers sit on the council that reviews accidents [1]. The Ministry answerable for SAIL and RINL [4] also chairs the council.
• No worker voice: The SISC has no trade union members [1]. Under the OSH Code, factories with 500 or more workers must have safety committees that include workers [3].

Why such bodies still add value

• Speed and expertise: A body set up by government order starts work at once. SISD experts cover blast furnaces, coke ovens and process safety [1], which general factory inspectors lack.
• Coordination: DGMS, PESO and NDMA sit on one platform [1], linking workplace safety with disaster preparedness.
• Industry buy-in: Standards that CEOs approve are more likely to be funded [1].

Way forward

• Notify SISD standards as rules under the OSH Code so that inspectors can enforce them [3].
• Make plant-wise accident and near-miss reporting compulsory for public and private plants, and protect those who report [4].
• Add worker representatives. The ILO steel safety code assigns duties and rights to employers, workers and authorities together [5].
• Publish the findings of accident reviews.

Sectoral bodies supply expertise, but compliance comes from law. SISC standards should be anchored in the OSH Code, with worker members and transparent data. That would turn an advisory forum into an effective part of a statutory safety system, in line with Article 42 (just and humane conditions of work) and SDG 8's goal of safe workplaces.