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TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT FY 2023 COMMUNITIES THE PLANET THE WORKPLACE

Enhancing workplace safety at BALCO through introduction of Lightening Protection System
Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is crucial for
contractors working in any of Vedanta’s operating
locations. Contractors are required to understand
the site's emergency evacuation plans, including
evacuation routes, assembly points, and any In the mining industry, workplace safety covers a wide range The LPS also plays a protective role in several ways. When it detects bad
designated safe areas, andfamiliarise with of hazards. At Vedanta, we follow uncompromising safety weather, the LPS automatically switches off sensitive and high-value
emergency exits, fire extinguisher locations, and standards, and stay alert to emerging hazards to ensure electrical assets to auxiliary power, until safe conditions return. Once the
other safety equipment on-site. all-round worker safety. In 2023, we made our workplace danger has passed, the safety system seamlessly transfers these assets
safety even more robust through the installation of a back to the main power supply. The LPS also prevents harm from
Driving Safety Digitally Lightening Management and Alert System, which provides lightning strikes through its feature of providing a low impedance route to
Secure implementation of digital tools, comprehensive predictive and protection capabilities. the ground.
technologies and online platforms in the
workplace have been remarkable aspects of Lightening has immense destructive force as it carries These very useful features help to effectively safeguard high-value and
Vedanta’s journey towards making our operations massive electrical discharge of nearly a billion joules of sensitive equipment, and to protect human lives from danger of sudden
safer. After a pilot study conducted at energy, and can have catastrophic impact on human life and lightning strikes.
HZL-Chanderiya facility, we have adopted a property. After experiencing a fatality caused by a lightning
camera-based surveillance technology, that strike in the ash dyke at BALCO it was decided that we
helps monitor and track safety violations in would take all necessary protection to prevent any such
real-time. recurrences.

To aid employees’ understanding of safety Ten lightning arrestors (LA) have been installed in different
standards, we have introduced various digital areas of the Ash dyke. Eleven Lightning Protection Systems
safety e-learning modules across business units (LPS) have also been installed, which activate alarms in case
and seamless implementation of these standards of lightning occurring in the area and actuates safety earth
is ensured through Enablon. Enablon’s expertise and dissipates the impact of lightning in case of a strike.
in integrating safety solutions into operations,
has helped us minimise risks, drive data-driven The LPS has predictive capabilities and its sensitive
solutions and ensure transparent reporting. equipment can detect the occurrence of storms and
lightning in the vicinity. The LPS consists of a network of air
terminals, bonding conductors, and ground electrodes
designed to provide a low impedance path to ground for
potential strikes. The LPS acts as an early warning system
whenever it detects bad weather. Through warning flashes
of revolving light and hooter alerts the LPS provides warning
on imminent storms and weather disturbances, allowing
adequate time for preparation and precautions.

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