The Life and Building Safety Initiative (LABS) successfully conducted the second meeting of the Platform for Safety in Apparel and Footwear Industry (PSAFI), a collaborative platform dedicated to advancing safety and sustainable development in India’s apparel and footwear sectors. PSAFI offers a trusted, neutral forum where industry stakeholders can come together to discuss, exchange insights, and collectively address safety challenges.
The event was addressed by Dr. Lalit Gabhane, Director General of the National Safety Council, who emphasized that the essence of a safety manager is rooted in a mindset where every individual contributes to driving the safety culture, underscoring the collective responsibility of all employees in fostering safer work environments.
Chief Guest Mr. Navneet K. Mohan, Joint Director of Factories, Government of Karnataka, also shared his insights on the critical role of leadership in driving a safety-first culture within organizations. He highlighted how leadership at all levels can serve as a catalyst for instilling safety values and ensuring that safety protocols are effectively implemented across the sector.
Around 140 members from 35 organizations participated in the event, showcasing broad industry engagement. Attendees included representatives from major organizations such as Arvind Ltd, Jay Jay Mills, Indian Designs, Radnik, PeeEmpro, Jak Leather, Bharatiya International Ltd, and Texport Syndicate, along with leading global brands like Amazon, Target, Nike, and Walmart. Stakeholders unanimously agreed to form a collective working group to drive safety culture and address compliance and risk mitigation issues across the apparel, footwear, and textiles industries.
Participants further acknowledged the benefits of adopting new technologies and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and enhance safety management systems. These advancements were recognized as a crucial step toward real-time monitoring and proactive risk management, which would help ensure the safety of factory operations.
A key point raised during the discussions was the need to increase awareness of safety as a core cultural value, with an emphasis on appointing dedicated safety managers or promoters in factories to champion these efforts. Factory representatives collectively requested that statutory bodies streamline compliance processes while recognizing and rewarding facilities that have successfully adopted programs like LABS, which are setting a positive example in the industry.
In addition, a workshop on the role of safety officers was conducted by a representative from the National Safety Council of India, further underlining the importance of skilled professionals in maintaining and enforcing safety standards.
PSAFI continues to invite industry professionals, policymakers, workers’ representatives, and other stakeholders to join the platform and contribute to the collective effort to improve safety standards across India’s apparel and footwear industries.
About PSAFI
The Platform for Safety in Apparel and Footwear Industry (PSAFI) is an initiative established by the Life and Building Safety Initiative (LABS) to promote fire, electrical, and building safety in India’s apparel and footwear sectors. PSAFI provides a neutral space for stakeholders to collaborate, share ideas, and drive coordinated actions aimed at fostering a preventative safety culture. By facilitating consultation and cooperation among stakeholders, PSAFI seeks to enhance the management of building safety risks and promote sustainable, safe practices across the industry.
