Safe Electricity | Competence, Compliance, Caution
As the National Electrical Safety Week comes to an end, the conversation on electrical safety must continue.
WATCH: https://bit.ly/Electrical-Safety-m4i
Despite growing awareness about electrical safety and advances in technology, India continues to face significant challenges in preventing electrical accidents and fires, with experts pointing to cost-driven procurement practices, inadequate skills, and weak compliance as major concerns.
Speaking at a panel discussion on “Electrical Safety: Competence, Compliance and Caution,” organized by mojo4industry in partnership with Polycab India Limited, industry leaders and safety experts stressed the need for a holistic approach to electrical safety across infrastructure, industrial and commercial projects.
Milindkumar Deshmukh, former Director and Fire Advisor to the Government of Maharashtra and President of the National Association of Fire Officers, highlighted the severity of the issue, citing recent statistics.
“You would be surprised that about 5,888 people died in India in 2024 according to NCRB data. A significant percentage of these deaths are related to fire incidents, many of which have electrical origins,” Deshmukh said.
He noted that while awareness about electrical safety may have improved, accident data does not indicate a corresponding decline in incidents.
“Sometimes I say it is the blame on electricity because we do not have proper fire investigation mechanisms. If electricity itself were so unsafe, the country’s industrial and economic progress would not have happened. The real challenge is identifying the root cause through proper investigation and forensic analysis,” he added.
Awareness Improving, But Challenges Remain
According to Shashi Amin, Director (Non-Board Member) & CEO – B2B Channel & Corporate Communication, Polycab India Limited, consumer awareness has improved significantly over the past decade, especially in the selection of electrical products.
“Earlier, it was left entirely to electricians to decide which wires would be used. Today, consumers are asking about brands and specifications. They are becoming much more conscious about quality and safety,” Amin said.
Sheetal Bhilkar, Founder & CEO, Urja Building Services Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (UBSC), echoed the sentiment.
“We have definitely seen improvement. Earlier, many electricians were not even aware of the type of wires they were using. Today, awareness about products such as FRLS wires has increased substantially. However, there is still a long way to go,” she said.
L1 Procurement Culture Under Scrutiny
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the industry’s dependence on awarding contracts based on the lowest bidder, commonly known as the L1 model.
“Attention to safety exists in data centres and major projects, but what is hurting the industry is that we are still finalizing orders on an L1 basis,” Amin said.
“Are we really evaluating the quality of brands? Are we inspecting materials properly? Often, critical installation work is left to contractors and electricians without sufficient oversight.”
Sheetal said the problem begins at the design stage itself. “L1 starts from the design consultants. The qualifications and competence of consultants are not always evaluated. Then it continues during contractor selection and material procurement. At every stage, the lowest-cost approach creates problems,” she said.
Deshmukh was even more direct in his criticism. “This L1 culture is a real cancer in India,” he said. “Organizations conduct extensive technical evaluations, but eventually reverse auctions and target prices force vendors to cut costs. You cannot expect gold-standard quality and safety if you are only willing to pay for silver.”
Substandard Materials and Poor Workmanship Fuel Risks
Drawing from years of fire investigations, Deshmukh identified several recurring causes behind electrical fires.
“We frequently observe poor electrical installations, undersized cabling, incorrect selection of protective devices, loose terminal connections, improper cable joints and the use of substandard accessories,” he said. “Many call it optimization, but in reality it is minimization.”
Sheetal said audits often reveal deviations from approved designs, especially when it comes to cable sizing.
“We carefully calculate current-carrying capacity and voltage drop before specifying cable sizes. Yet when we conduct audits, we often find contractors using smaller cables to save money,” she said.
In one recent project, she said, even the client had instructed the contractor to change specifications without consulting the design team.
“When developers themselves compromise on quality and safety, it becomes very difficult to maintain standards,” she added.
Trust Deficit and Compliance Challenges
Amin emphasized that India already has strong standards in place, but compliance remains a concern.
“India has mandated that wherever Indian Standards exist, products should comply with those standards. The question is whether we are actually adhering to them,” he said.
Comparing India with developed markets, Amin pointed to a lack of trust between manufacturers and customers.
“In many international markets, there is no concept of product inspection because customers trust manufacturers to consistently deliver compliant products. In India, there is still a trust deficit. Building that trust is critical.”
Deshmukh argued that enforcement mechanisms also need strengthening. “The regulator lacks competency in some cases, and integrity is another challenge. We also face a shortage of skilled manpower, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities,” he said.
“There was a time when ITIs produced competent electricians. Today, many of these institutions are struggling. The question is: where will we get the skilled workforce needed to ensure safe installations?”
New Technologies Offer Safer Alternatives
The discussion also highlighted advances in cable and wiring technologies designed to improve fire safety.
Amin noted that the industry has moved beyond conventional wiring systems to offer safer alternatives such as flame-retardant, low-smoke, fire-survival, zero-halogen and lead-free cables.
“The National Building Code clearly recommends zero-halogen insulated wires for high-rise buildings because they do not release toxic gases during a fire,” he said.
“In the event of a fire, there is no chlorine and significantly lower toxic emissions. The technology is available, but adoption remains limited.”
He added that while manufacturers continue to innovate, customers and project developers must be willing to embrace safer technologies.
Competence, Compliance and Caution Must Work Together
Concluding the discussion, the panel agreed that regulations and technology alone cannot eliminate electrical hazards.
Instead, improving safety will require a combination of skilled professionals, strict adherence to standards, responsible procurement practices and a stronger culture of safety.
As Deshmukh summed up: “Even the best products cannot guarantee safety if they are not installed properly. Competence, integrity and quality must go hand in hand if we want to achieve the vision of a truly safe India.”
