Like every other morning, I was sitting on the sofa, enjoying a steaming cup of tea, with the newspaper in one hand and the television remote in the other—just another routine start to the day. Then suddenly, I heard something on the news that compelled me to write this.
“4 workers die due to a gas leak while cleaning a tank in Latur, Maharashtra,” the breaking news flashed across the screen. In a rush, I began flipping through news channels to learn more. Some channels reported 7 deaths, others 9. Despite the variation in the body count, the coverage followed the same approach: each news outlet focused on reporting the tragedy, and many blamed the system, the administration, the company, the police, and more, depending on their perspective.
I decided to look for more details online, Googling the story. But after almost 10 days, there was no follow-up, no further investigation, and no clear explanation for the cause of the incident in any newspaper or on any news channel. By this time, it was evident: the story was important only on the day it happened. The outpouring of sympathy, empathy, anger, frustration, and blame lasted only for that single day. The public outcry faded quickly, just like the fumes of the gas leak.
This was a thought-provoking realization. It highlighted how Safety Savvy we are—or rather, how we are not—as a nation. Having spent several years working in Environment Health and Safety (Core EHS) in different countries, I noticed a fundamental difference. In other nations, EHS is ingrained from a young age, taught in schools, and woven into the fabric of civic life. Sadly, that's not the case here.
I often observe parents taking their children on two-wheelers without helmets, driving in the wrong lanes, and ignoring traffic rules, all to drop them off at school. Yet, when their children grow older and get their own two-wheelers, the same parents expect them to wear helmets, follow traffic rules, and drive safely. The message is clear: “Do as I say, not as I do.” This disconnect is deeply rooted in our society.
The issue isn’t just a lack of enforcement; it’s a lack of education and awareness. In many countries, safety practices and protocols are part of daily life, instilled from childhood and practiced in the workplace. But here, safety awareness remains secondary, often ignored until tragedy strikes.
If we are to become a truly safety-conscious nation, we need to start from the ground up—through education, through a change in societal habits, and by making safety a priority both at home and at work. For more on how to integrate Core EHS practices into our daily lives and workspaces, visit Core EHS.