Parliament Question: Safety Measures for Hazardous Chemicals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 983 ANSWERED ON 24/07/2026 SAFETY MEASURES FOR HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS 983. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken a comprehensive review of safety protocols, governing industrial storage, transportation and handling of ammonia and other hazardous chemicals after the Tiruvallur ammonia leak in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of safety standards prescribed by the Government for refrigeration systems using ammonia, along with the mechanism for ensuring compliance by industrial establishments; (c) whether the Government proposes mandatory installation of ammonia leak detectors, automatic alarm systems, water-curtain arrangements and real-time monitoring equipment in industries handling hazardous chemicals, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has examined gaps in enforcement of existing safety regulations and identified the corrective measures, if so, the details thereof; and (e) the time-bound action proposed by the Government to prevent recurrence of similar industrial disasters across the country, State-wise? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a) to (e) The Central Government under the Ministry of labour and Employment has enacted the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code 2020, which has come into force on 21.11.2025, to regulate the occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in establishments including factories and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. State /UT Government is the appropriate Government to implement the provisions of OSH&WC Code 2020 in case of factories.The OSH&WC Code further, inter-alia, stipulates the duties of the employer to ensure that the work place remains free from hazards that cause or are likely to cause injuries or occupational disease to the employees. Further, as per information received from Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Government of Tamil Nadu, special teams have been constituted to conduct inspections in factories handling Ammonia to ensure the safety of the workers. Instructions have also been issued to the officials to ensure that workers are not permitted to stay inside the factory premises where hazardous chemicals are handled or stored. As per these instructions, special squads have also been formed for conducting inspections in such units handling Ammonia. *****