The Ministry of Steel on September 28 announced the formation of the Steel Industry Safety Council, an apex body to drive a zero-harm culture across the sector.

The council will be chaired by Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik. Members include the Directorate General of Mines Safety, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, the National Disaster Management Authority, CEOs of integrated steel producers and technical institutions.

A new Steel Industry Safety Directorate will handle safety audits, incident investigations, standard-setting and near-miss data analysis for plants nationwide.

The move follows a series of accidents at steel plants that have put worker safety under the spotlight. Officials said the council will set common safety standards and share best practices across producers.

India's finished steel production reached 15.9 million tonnes between January and August 2026, up about 6% from a year earlier, making it the world's second-largest steel producer.

The ministry said the safety body will also work with state governments and plant-level committees to cut fatalities and serious injuries in the industry.