Enhanced safety and health governance framework for the Pharma Sector under the New Labour Codes

The Press Information Bureau (“PIB”) has issued a press release highlighting the positive changes brought about by the new, consolidated Labour Codes, particularly the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (“OSHWC”) Code, 2020 (“Code”) and Social Security Code, 2020 for Pharmaceutical Industries. The Code replaces fragmented rules with a unified and comprehensive safety and health governance framework. Through the newly notified Code, the pharma sector, will now operate within strengthened safety, health, and social-security governance aided by risk-based oversight, documented safety systems, periodic medical surveillance, scientific hazard management and prevention-focused governance.

Key Highlights:

1. Risk Management & Surveillance: The pharma industry will now operate with advanced risk-management protocols including scientific risk assessments, biosafety containment strategies, exposure monitoring systems, environmental surveillance etc. In addition to this annual and periodic free medical examinations are mandatory for all workers handling hazardous materials to enable early detection and prevention of occupational diseases.
2. Compliance & Emergency Readiness: Under the new Code employers will benefit from single-window clearances, risk-based inspection mechanisms, centralized licensing, and reducing compliance complexity reinforce. Emergency preparedness is reinforced through on-site emergency plans, periodic mock drills, chemical and biological spill-response systems, and occupational hygiene units.
3. Worker Competency & Safety Culture: The code introduces competency-based certification for personnel handling hazardous chemical and biological substances, ensuring that trained, skilled, and medically fit workers operate clean-rooms, pressure-cycle reactors, isolators, biosafety cabinets, and microbial fermentation systems.
4. Women’s Safety Provisions: The Code also supports women’s participation in modern pharma manufacturing by providing statutory safeguards, biological hazard protections for pregnant and lactating women, and safe deployment in clean-room automation environments, analytical labs, formulation units, and sterile zones.
5. Social Security Provisions: The Social Security Code, 2020 further ensures universal ESI coverage, occupational disease recognition, disability compensation, dependents’ benefits, and maternity protections, creating a comprehensive health-economic safety net.

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Source: Press Information Bureau