The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, APRIL 27, 2025
On the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to a safety-first culture, unveiling a comprehensive suite of initiatives that leverage cutting-edge digital and smart technologies to redefine workplace safety. Rooted firmly in predictive and inclusive safety practices, Vedanta’s approach is setting new benchmarks for industrial operations globally.
The theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 focuses on the role of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping safer workplaces. As organizations integrate AI, robotics, exoskeletons, and remote working models, these advancements present both transformative opportunities and complex challenges. Vedanta has embraced this evolution with vigor, deploying a robust array of technologies including AI-led monitoring systems, drones, fatigue detection technologies, smart helmets, and tele-remote operations across its diverse operations.
Leading the charge, Vedanta’s zinc business in India has achieved a national first by introducing a virtual reality (VR)-based winder training simulator, replicating the functioning of shafts used for material and manpower movement. The business has also pioneered the use of a VR-based underground vehicle simulator to train employees in the safe operation of mining vehicles. In its aluminium operations, Vedanta is utilizing drones to perform critical inspections prior to material extraction, enhancing both efficiency and safety. Meanwhile, in its oil and gas division, the company has implemented an AI-driven Safety Surveillance Monitoring System, strategically deploying AI cameras to reduce manual surveillance by 80%, significantly boosting safety standards.
Vedanta’s commitment to innovation extends through collaborations with startups such as Jarsh Safety, a participant from Shark Tank India, focusing on smart safety wearables designed to mitigate heat stress and enhance connectivity within industrial environments. These innovations reflect Vedanta’s core belief that technology, when combined with proactive leadership, can anticipate and mitigate risks rather than merely react to them.
At the heart of Vedanta’s safety philosophy lies the principle of ‘visible-felt leadership’, where business CXOs lead by example, embodying the highest standards of safety and inspiring employees and business partners alike. To embed this culture deeply across its workforce, Vedanta has instituted ‘Communities of Practice’ and robust safety committees that ensure consistent implementation and monitoring of safety protocols.
Technology plays a pivotal role in augmenting these human-led initiatives. Vedanta’s proprietary T-Pulse platform uses AI to monitor critical operational zones in real-time, while AI Detect provides supervisors with actionable video insights on safety improvements, tracked through dynamic dashboards. Smart helmets equipped with live audio-visual connectivity offer real-time guidance to employees on workflows, while fatigue detection systems monitor drivers to prevent drowsiness-related incidents. Computer vision technologies safeguard smelting operations by ensuring that critical safety interlocks are engaged before operation, and advanced ceramic sensors predict potential furnace leaks in oil and gas facilities. Simulators for both heavy and light motor vehicles enable operators to hone their skills in a virtual environment before field deployment, further reinforcing safety.
A spokesperson for Vedanta Limited said, “At Vedanta, we believe the future of safety lies at the intersection of innovation, inclusion, and intent. By leveraging AI, smart systems, and people-first leadership, we are not just responding to risks — we’re anticipating and preventing them. Our commitment is to create workplaces that are not only productive but deeply safe, healthy, and future-ready.”
Investing heavily in workforce development, Vedanta regularly conducts comprehensive training programs covering all aspects of health and safety, including specialized fire and rescue training. Recognizing the importance of catering to a large contractual and floating workforce, the company ensures that safety is a deeply ingrained part of its onboarding and operational culture. Demonstrating its leadership in inclusion, Vedanta is proud to be the first company in India to have all-women underground mine rescue and firefighting teams, breaking barriers and setting new standards for gender diversity in industrial safety roles.
Vedanta’s approach to occupational health is holistic and proactive. The company operates hospitals in every operational township, offering services ranging from basic healthcare to specialized cancer care through its flagship BALCO Medical Centre. Initiatives such as complimentary annual health check-ups, extensive insurance coverage, and access to mental health counselors further illustrate Vedanta’s commitment to the well-being of its employees. Beyond healthcare, Vedanta fosters a culture of fitness and holistic well-being through events like the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon, and Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon, alongside maintaining state-of-the-art gyms, swimming pools, and sports complexes.
Importantly, Vedanta’s commitment to safety and health transcends its own operational boundaries. The company actively supports surrounding communities through training programs in basic fire safety, road safety, lightning safety, first aid, and even self-defense, thereby fostering a culture of safety and resilience at a grassroots level.
With a globally diverse portfolio spanning critical minerals, energy, and technology, Vedanta is not only the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc and the third-largest producer of silver but also ranks among the top producers of aluminium and is India’s only private oil and gas producer. As Vedanta continues its strategic expansion into rare earths, critical minerals, and renewable energy, its future-ready approach to safety and health will remain a cornerstone of its vision for sustainable and inclusive growth.
