The Ministry of Steel, Government of India, has established the Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC) as an apex-level industry safety body under its administrative control, announced on September 28, 2026. This initiative aims to strengthen safety standards, practices, accident prevention, and safety awareness across the entire steel industry.
The Council will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Steel and includes senior ministry officials, chief executives of integrated steel producers, and representatives from key technical and statutory organizations including the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and recognized steel technology institutions.
The SISC's mandate includes assessing the safety situation in the steel industry, facilitating studies and improvements in safety practices, approving industry safety standards and recommended practices, and reviewing serious accidents, accidents, and near-miss incidents. The council will also provide directions for strengthening safety awareness, training, and preventive measures.
To provide technical and professional support, a Steel Industry Safety Directorate (SISD) will be established with expertise in multiple areas including process safety, blast furnaces, steel melting, rolling mills, coke ovens, refractory systems, electrical and mechanical safety, occupational health, fire engineering, and disaster management.
The SISD will oversee implementation of the Council's decisions, undertake periodic safety audits and reviews, maintain and disseminate accident and near-miss information, conduct investigations into serious safety incidents, review emergency preparedness and safety training programmes, and develop and issue Steel Industry Safety Standards, Recommended Practices and Guidelines suited to Indian conditions. This institutional framework represents a significant step toward promoting a stronger safety culture and improving prevention of industrial accidents across India's steel industry.