|
Safety in pharmaceutical manufacturing was discussed at the recently concluded Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Telangana “Pillars of Protection” conference in Hyderabad.
The event brought together key government officials and industry leaders to emphasize the integration of safety into every stage of industrial operations—from planning to execution and maintenance.
Chief Guest Y Nagi Reddy, director general of Telangana Fire Disaster Response, highlighted the need for mandatory annual fire safety audits, especially in the pharma sector, citing over 100 major fire incidents in the past decade. He stressed that safety must be embedded as an organisational culture, not just a compliance requirement. The department’s deployment of fire-fighting robots and exploration of drone technology reflect its commitment to innovation in emergency response.
B Raja Gopala Rao, director of Factories, emphasized that safety should be treated as a core pillar alongside production and quality. The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) director general K Raja Bhanu linked safety to India’s global reputation, noting that pharma exports have surged to USD 30 billion and are projected to reach USD 70 billion by 2030.
Dr Vinay Kumar Gupta from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) stressed that even minor safety lapses during inspections can lead to major improvements.
Nikhil Chakravarthi, director at the Commissionerate of Industries, underscored Hyderabad’s global prominence in pharma and biotech, with 40–50% of US FDA-approved facilities located in the city. He advocated for advanced risk assessment tools like Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) and Failure Mode Analysis, and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, drones, and digital twins to enhance safety. He highlighted risks such as product contamination and the importance of proper sampling environments.
HAZOP helps improve safety, prevent accidents, and enhance operational efficiency by systematically examining deviations from the intended design. HAZOP is a structured and systematic method used to identify potential hazards and operability problems within a complex process or system.
CII Telangana chairman R Sivaprasad Reddy noted the state’s contribution of 35% to India’s pharma production and 32% to exports. He emphasized the role of awareness programmes like Farm Monitor in promoting safety and compliance.
Chakravarthi AVPS and M Goutham Reddy called for leadership-driven safety culture, stressing that CEOs must champion safety initiatives. The Bhopal gas tragedy was cited as a cautionary tale underscoring the need for proactive safety management.
The conference aimed to foster best practices in Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and incident prevention, while promoting a collaborative approach to building safer, more resilient manufacturing environments.
|