IIT Madras unveils course to boost safety standards in manufacturing and energy sectors

To address the growing concern over workplace accidents in high-risk industries, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras has introduced an online postgraduate diploma course in process safety.

Tailored for working professionals, the program is designed to build expertise in managing safety challenges within sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and energy.

Open to candidates holding a B.E. or BTech in branches like chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, petroleum, and allied fields—or an M.Sc. in Chemistry with at least two years of work experience—the course will be offered by the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education.

Applications are open until May 31.

An entrance examination is scheduled for July 13, and those interested can apply through https://code.iitm.ac.in/processsafety.

Course coordinator Rajagopalan Srinivasan highlighted the urgency of the initiative, citing a 2024 report by IndustriALL Global Union.

“At least 240 workplace accidents occurred across manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors in India in which over 400 fatalities and more than 850 serious injuries were reported," he said.

He added that most of these incidents were “attributed mostly to lapses in safety procedures within the industry, resulting from insufficient knowledge of essential safety practices and protocols.”

This newly launched program aims to sharpen professionals’ skills and reinforce their understanding of crucial safety standards.

Structured in a trimester format, the course runs from September to December, January to April, and May to August.

Participants can enroll in up to three courses per term and are expected to complete the diploma within one to two years.