Occupational Safety
(GS Paper-1, Population and associated issues)
In the year where India has tremendous economic growth still the record of promoting occupational and industrial safety is weak. Making work environment safer is still a low priority matter for the government and civil society.
The resultant are frequently addressed by the country in the form of fatalities and injuries.
It is to be known that occupational safety is an existential right of humans but still it has failed receiving the attention of lawmakers and even trade unions.
However various scholars and committees have pointed out that we need a strong monitoring and comprehensive data bases in all the states of our country to draft policies to ensure safer workplaces to all.
Current provisions to ensure occupational safety
- The statistics of industrial accidents and occupational safety are presented by the labour bureau.
- The occupational safety health and working condition code 2020 has spells out duties of employees and employers and also pointed out safety standards for different sectors focusing on the health as well as working conditions workers leave etc of workers
- The report states to provide social security benefit and wages to fix term employees at par with permanent counterparts
- It also states that women will be entitled to be employed in all establishment for all kind of work with their consent and they can work before 6 AM and beyond 7 PM subject to conditionality is relating to their safety
Highlights of the statistics presented by labour bureau
Report pointed out that during the period of 2011 -16 the number of cases of occupational diseases was just 562 but when we compare the same data with the article published by national medical Journal of India it indicates that there is huge number of occupational diseases and there is a prevalence of occupational disease such as silicosis and byssinosis
Status of inspection rates in country
- According to a report submitted by directorate general factory advice and labour Institute, 2019 The proportion of working in sanctioned post for factory inspectors for India was about 70.60%
- The Report highlights that there is only one inspector for every 487 registered factories in India
- There is a declining trend in inspection rates from 36.23% to 34.65% during the year 2012 and 2015
- However the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu had shown higher inspection rates about 65 to 66 percentage
Way forward approach
- India has already ratified the international labour organization convention, the labour inspection convention 1947 and labour statistics convention 1985 hence the country should take immediate and concrete actions to prevent the violation of these conventions
- The criteria of the inspection of occupational safety and health need to be reviewed under the recent government initiative “Vision@2047 By labour ministry”
- Scholars are pointing out that if we compromise on safety front it can lead to extreme consequences that may go beyond factories and may imprint worst in the nation’s memory as in the case of Bhopal gas disaster
- The Public need to be aware to prevent work related accidents and diseases and to improve Hazardous working environment
- young ignited mind should be inspired to take prompt action under this regard
- Media journalists should highlight the safety and health challenges of various economic sectors and also suggest some measures to mitigate these cases
Conclusion
It is not only important for the government but employees, workers, civil society, media, trade unions and other stakeholders two frame a safe and healthy future workplace for all so that a healthy and safe environment can be created and it will directly contribute to the upliftment of Social economic condition of our country
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-look-at-occupational-safety-and-health-in-india/article65045757.ece
.png)
