Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, organised Manak Manthan — a stakeholder consultation on the Draft Indian Standard CED 22(28725) WC: Industrial Safety Helmet. The programme was held at the BIS Office, CIT Campus, Taramani, with active participation from industry representatives, safety professionals, testing laboratories, manufacturers and other stakeholders involved in workplace safety and protective equipment.
Shri S. D. Dayanand, Scientist–F / Senior Director & Head, BIS Chennai Branch Office, delivered the Welcome Address and outlined the programme objectives. He emphasised the importance of strengthening safety standards in industrial environments, especially in sectors where helmets are critical first-line protection against head injuries.
“Industrial Safety Helmets are not just protective gear — they are life-saving equipment,” Shri Dayanand stated. He further stated that this program is aimed for targeted feedback on the draft document for analyzing the proposed testing methodologies and performance benchmarks, anticipating the challenges of implementation and ensuring the final document is robust, unambiguous, and enforceable, thereby setting the highest achievable safety standard for the Indian industry.
The Keynote Address was delivered by Smt. R. Premakumari, Additional Director, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Chennai, who served as the Chief Guest. She highlighted the growing need for robust occupational safety standards in Tamil Nadu’s expanding industrial landscape. Also, she vouched for awareness among workforce on appropriate safety gear and aspired for more safety concerned working environment.
She noted, “With rapid industrial growth, the responsibility to safeguard workers has never been more critical. Standards for safety helmets must be uncompromising, as even minor improvements in design or testing protocols can prevent major accidents. She lauded the BIS’s initiative to consult stakeholders endorsing its commitment to ensuring workplace safety and compliance with global best practices.”
A detailed Technical Discussion on the draft standard was conducted by Shri Arun Pucchakayala, Scientist–E / Director, BIS Chennai Branch Office. He provided extensive insights into the proposed requirements related to materials, design, mandatory requirements, optional requirements and markings on label for safety helmets.
Shri Arun also explained that the revised draft focuses on enhancing user protection considering various facets of hazards in industrial environment. With an aim to harmonise the standard with international benchmarks without overlooking challenges faced by manufacturers, inputs have been sought from various stakeholders which will play a vital role in finalising a standard making it effective and implementable.”
Following the technical session, Shri Arun also delivered a session on various activities of BIS and e-BIS portal, demonstrating how industries can use BIS’s digital platforms for conformity assessment, standards as a knowledge resource and compliance-related services. He also encouraged participants to adopt e-BIS for improved efficiency and transparency in certification processes.
An Open House session allowed participants to share their perspectives on testing challenges, material selection, ergonomic design, durability parameters and field-level issues related to industrial helmet usage. Representatives requested clearer guidance on test facilities, enhanced user comfort requirements and alignment with state-level safety regulations. BIS officials noted all suggestions for consideration in the next stage of standard finalisation.
Manak Manthan witnessed participation from safety gear manufacturers, MSMEs, industry associations, government safety officials, quality assurance personnel and technical experts. The dialogue reinforced the collaborative approach BIS follows to ensure Indian Standards remain relevant, evidence-based and aligned with evolving workplace safety needs.
Participants were also encouraged to download the BIS Care App for quick access to standards and information on conformity assessment schemes and to subscribe to Standards Watch, a BIS’s bi-weekly bulletin for latest updates.