Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. It is the outcome of the interaction between the individual and his environment. He is healthy who is well-adjusted. According to the joint ILO/ WHO committee on organizational health, industrial health is:

• The promotion and maintenance of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations;

• Prevention among workers of ill-health caused by the working conditions;

• Protection of workers in their employment from risk resulting from factors adverse to health; and

• Placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environmental adapted to his physical and psychological equipment.

1. Physical Health

Being strong enough to cope with the pace of growth

2. Emotional Health

Being self-aware and having the hope and resilience to bounce back

3. Intellectual Health

Asking hard questions, curious, constantly assessing yourself and adapting to change and innovating.

4. Social Health

Being authentic and building mutually nourishing relationships

5. Vocational Health

Having a passion for success and a meaningful calling in life

6. Spiritual Health

Not whether you are religious, but whether you have a higher purpose and a sense of being part of something bigger than yourself

Thus, modern concept of health anticipates and recognizes potentially harmful situations and applies measures to prevent disease and infirmity.

Significance of Occupational Health

• Workers spend a great deal of their time in industrial settings. In many industries, workers are exposed to various types of health hazards. Unless the working conditions - lighting, ventilation, cleanliness, temperature, space, etc. are proper workers cannot concentrate on work. They do not feel working hard continuously for long time. As a result productivity will be low. Secondly, ill health will force workers to be absent from work. There will be high rate of absenteeism and labor turnover.

• The quality of work will suffer and the firm's resources will be wasted. In addition, industrial discontent and indiscipline will arise.

• Thus, industrial health is essential for the following reasons:

• To maintain and improve productivity and quality of work

• To minimize absenteeism and labor turnover

• To reduce industrial unrest, indiscipline and accidents

• To improve employee motivation and morale

• To reduce spoilage and cost of operations

• To preserve the physical and mental health of employees

In recent years, increasing attention is being paid to industrial health and safety due to pressure from trade unions, labor laws and enlightened attitudes of employers. National Commission on Labor and other committees have stressed the creation and maintenance of as healthy an environment as possible both at the work place and in the homes of workers. According to Recommendation 112 of ILO, "Occupational health services should be established in or near a place of employment for the purpose of:

a) Protecting the workers against any health hazard arising out of work or conditions in which it is carried on,

b) Contributing towards worker's physical and mental adjustment, and

c) Contributing to establishment and maintenance of the highest possible degree of physical and mental well-being of the workers.

Working Conditions Affecting Health

The main physical factors influencing workers' health are as follows:

1. Cleanliness

Hygiene is essential to health. Dirt should be removed daily form the workplace, furniture, staircases, etc. Properly cleaned and disinfected spitoons must be provided at convenient places. Arrangements should be made for proper disposal of industrial waste. Rats, pests and insects should be destroyed as these are worst carriers of diseases. Drinking water, toilets, restaurant and canteen facilities should be provided for workers.

2. Lighting

Adequate and proper lighting is essential for higher efficiency and good quality of work. Poor lighting on the other hand causes eye strain, mental fatigue, accidents and spoilage of materials. A good lighting system should provide:

a) The right degree of intensity of light depending upon the nature of work,

b) Well-diffused and uniformly spread light all over the work place, and

c) Protection from any glare.

3. Temperature and Ventilation

Flow of fresh air with right temperature and humidity is necessary for protection of health. Stale air causes headache to workers. In hot and humid climate, employees feel tired and sleepy ventilators, fans, coolers/ heaters, air conditioners help to maintain right temperature and humidity. These also keep the air free from dust, smoke, fumes, etc.

4. Freedom from Noise

Too much noise inside and outside the work place causes disturbance. It does not allow workers to concentrate on the work and their efficiency declines. Internal noise occurs due to conversations, movement of workers and machines, telephone calls, etc. Use of sound absorbent materials in walls and ceilings, carpets on the floors, installation of noise producing machines in a separate room, etc. help to minimize such noise. External noise is caused by the movement of persons and vehicles near the work place. Proper location of factory/office, sound proof walls, double doors and glass panels may be used to avoid external noise.

5. Dust Control

At some work places, there is higher ratio of dust. For example, work areas in cotton and jute industries are laden with dust. Dust affects workers' health as well as the life of machinery. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the work place from dust. Several measures can be taken for this purpose. Regular cleaning of doors, windows, walls and ceilings is necessary. Floors should be washed daily to avoid accumulation of dust. Electrical installations should be regularly cleaned to maintain the level of lighting. Machines, furniture and records should be cleaned regularly.

6. Working Space and Seating Arrangement

Adequate space should be provided for free movement of persons, machines, etc. Proper seating arrangements are essential for comfort and health of employees. Over-crowding should be avoided as it spoils health and efficiency.

Occupational Hazards and Diseases

In certain industries workers are exposed to health hazards and disease. These arise due to the following:

1. Chemical Substances

Carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, limes and alkalis cause injury when they are absorbed through skin and inhaling. Workers may suffer from skin diseases, asthma, heart disease, neurological disorders and cancer. Their effect is slow but cumulative. These are difficult to diagnose and may became chronic and incurable. Gas, fumes and dust in stone quarries, mines, stone crushing, lead or zinc smelting, etc. cause diseases.

2. Biological Hazards

Bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, malnutrition excessive drinking and job stress affect employee health.

3. Environmental Hazards

These include radiation, noise, vibrations shocks, etc. X-rays or radio active exposure may cause eye strain, genetic disorders and cancer. High noise of machinery may cause hearing loss vibrations and shocks may cause nerve injury and inflammation of tissues in the body.

4. Atmospheric Conditions

Inadequate ventilation, improper lighting, extreme temperature, etc. affect health and efficiency of employees. Under the Factories Act, 1948 hazardous process is defined as “any process or activity in relation to an industry specified in the First Schedule where, unless special care is taken raw materials used therein or the intermediate or finished products, wastes or effluents therefore would:

• Cause material impairment of the health of the persons engaged in or connected therewith, or

• Result in the pollution of the general environment."

Protection against Health Hazards

Two types of measures can be taken to protect employee health against occupational hazards:

1. Preventive measures

• Pre-employment and periodic medical examination

• Removal of health hazards to the maximum possible extent

• Check over women, and other workers exposed to special risk

• Training of first aid staff, and

• Educating workers in health and hygiene, etc.

2. Curative measures

The curative measures consist of treatment for the affected workers. Of course prevention is always better than cure. Use of less toxic materials, providing protection devices, controlling noise, dust fumes, gases, etc. are some of the convenient and inexpensive measures that can be taken by employers to prevent health hazards.

Statutory provisions concerning health

The Factories Act, 1948 lays down the following provisions concerning employee health:

1. Cleanliness

• Every factory shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy or other nuisance

• Accumulation of dirt and refuse shall be removed daily by some effective method

• The floor of every work room shall be cleaned at least once in every week by washing, using disinfectant where necessary, or by some effective method.

2. Disposal of Wastes and Effluents

Effective arrangements shall be made in every factory for the treatment of wastes and effluents due to manufacturing process carried on therein, so as to render them innocuous and for their disposal.

3. Ventilation and Temperature

Effective and suitable provision shall be made in every factory for securing and maintaining in every workroom the circulation of fresh air and such a temperature as will secure to workers therein reasonable conditions of comfort and prevent injury to health.

4. Dust and Fumes

Where dust or fumes or impurity of such a nature as is likely to be injurious or offensive to the workers is given off as a result of the manufacturing process being carried on in a factory, effective measures shall be taken in the factory for prevention of inhalation or accumulation of dust and fumes in workrooms.

5. Artificial Humidification

In any factory in which the humidity of the air is artificially increased, the water used for the purpose shall be taken from a public supply or other source of drinking water or shall be effectively purified before it is so used.

6. Overcrowding

There shall be in every workroom of a factory at least 9.9 cubic metres (for the factories existing before this Act) and 14.2 cubic metres (for factories built after this Act) and 14.2 cubic metres (for factories built after this Act) of space for every worker.

7. Lighting

• In every part of the factory where workers are working or passing there shall be provided and maintained sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial or both.

• All glazed windows and sky lights used for lighting shall be kept clean and free from obstruction.

• Effective provision shall be made to prevent glaze and the formation of shadows.

8. Drinking Water

In every factory, effective arrangements shall be made to provide and maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed therein a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water.

9. Latrines and Urinals. In every factory

• sufficient latrine and urinal accommodation of prescribed types shall be provided conveniently situated and accessible to workers at the time while they are at the factory;

• separate enclosed accommodation shall be provided for male and female workers;

• such accommodation shall be adequately lighted and ventilated; (iv) all such accommodations shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

10. Spittoons

In every factory, there shall be provided a sufficient number of spittoons at convenient places and they shall be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

Employee Safety

Industrial workers are exposed to several types of hazards and accidents. Due to rapid industrialization, mechanical, chemical, electrical and radiation hazards have increased. Every year lakhs of employees are injured in factories, mines, ports, railways, etc. leading to partial or total disablement. An industrial accident is a sudden and unexpected occurrence in an industrial undertaking causing body injury to one or more persons and interruption in the orderly progress of work. According to the Factories Act, 1948 it is "an occurrence in an industrial establishment causing bodily injury to a person which makes him unfit to resume his duties in the next 48 hours." In other words, it is an unexpected and sudden event arising out of and in the course of employment. However, self-inflicted injuries, injuries inflicted with the consent of person cannot be regarded as accidents.

Significance of Industrial Safety

Industrial safety and efficiency are directly related to each other. Safety measures prevent accidents and ensure regular flow of work. Safety also helps to improve the morale and productivity of workers. It contributes to team work and sense of belonging among employees. Surveys and studies reveal that wherever safety measures are good, labor productivity is high. This is so because employees can concentrate on their work with confidence and without fear.

Industrial accidents cause a great loss to both the employer and the employees:

• cost of compensation to the required employee;

• cost of medical aid;

• cost of training a new worker;

• cost of the lost time when work stops due to an accident;

• cost of investigation into the accident;

• cost of supervision and inspections;

• cost to the Government in terms of factory inspectors, and public health services;

• cost of spoilage of materials;

• cost of damage to machinery;

• cost of wages payable during injury;

• cost of loss of morale; and

• Cost of loss to the worker and his family.

Society suffers a great deal due to industrial accidents. Gas leak in the Union Carbide factory in December, 1984 in Bhopal killed thousands and disabled lakhs of people.

Safety Provisions under the Factories Act

The Factories Act, 1948 lays down the following safety provisions:

1. Fencing of Machinery

In every factory, every dangerous part of any machine shall be securely fenced.

2. Work on or Near Machinery in Motion

Where in any factory it becomes necessary to examine any part of machinery while the machinery is in motion, such examination shall be made only by a specially trained adult male worker wearing tight fitting clothing to be supplied by the occupier.

3. Employment of Young Persons on Dangerous Machines

No young person shall be required or allowed to work on any dangerous machine unless:

• He has been fully instructed as to the dangers involved and the precautions required

• He has received sufficient training to work on the machine.

4. Striking Gear and Devices for Cutting off Power

In every factory, suitable striking gear or other efficient mechanical appliance shall be provided and maintained and used to move driving belt to and from fast and loose pulleys which form part of transmission machinery.

5. Self-acting Machines

No traversing part of a self-acting machine in any factory and no material carried thereon shall be allowed to run on its outward or inward traverse within a distance of 45 centimeters from any fixed structure which is not part of the machine.

6. Casing of New Machinery

All machinery driven by power and installed in any factory shall be so sunk, encased or otherwise effectively guarded as to prevent danger.

7. Prohibition of Employment of Women and Children near Cotton Openers.

No woman or child shall be employed in any part of a factory for pressing cotton in which a cotton-opener is at work.

8. Hoists and Lifts

In every factory every hoist and lift shall be of good mechanical construction, sound material, and adequate strength and shall be sufficiently protected by enclosures fitted with gates, and well maintained.

9. Lifting Machines, Chains, Ropes and Lifting Tackles

In every factory, every lifting machine and every chain rope and lifting tackle for the purpose of raising or lowering persons, goods or materials shall be of good construction, sound material, and adequate strength, free from defects and properly maintained.

10. Revolving Machinery

Effective measures shall be taken in every factory to ensure that the safe working peripheral speed of every revolving vessel, cage, basket, flywheel, pulley, disc or similar appliance driven by power is not exceeded.

11. Pressure Plant

If in any factory any plant or machinery or any part thereof is operated at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the same working pressure of such parts is not exceeded.

12.  Floors, Stairs and Means of Access

• All floors, steps, stairs, passages and gangways shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.

• They shall be kept free from obstructions and substances likely to cause persons to slip and handrails shall be provided where necessary.

13.  Pits, Sumps, Openings in Floors, etc

In every factory, pits, sumps, fixed vessels, tanks, openings in the ground or in the floor shall be securely covered or securely fenced.

14.  Excessive Weights

No person shall be employed in any factory to lift, carry or move any load so heavy as to be likely to cause him injury.

15. Protection of Eyes

In every factory, screens or suitable goggles shall be provided for the protection of persons employed on, or in immediate vicinity of mechanical or other processes which involve any danger of injury to the workers' eyesight from particles or fragments thrown off in the course of the process, or by reason of exposure to excessive light.

16. Precautions against Dangerous Fumes

In any factory no person shall be required or allowed to enter any chamber, tank, vat, pit, flue pipe or other confined space in which any gas, fume, vapor or dust is likely to be present to such an extent as to involve risk of persons being overcome thereby, unless it is provided with a manhole of adequate size or other effective means of egress.

17. Precautions Regarding the use of Portable Electric Light

No portable electric light or any other electric appliance of voltage exceeding 24 volts shall be permitted for use inside any chamber, tank, pit, pipe, flue or other confined space unless suitable safety devices are provided.

18. Precautions against Explosive or Inflammable Dust, Gas, etc

Where in any factory any manufacturing process produces dust, gas, fume or vapor which is likely to explode on ignition, all practicable measures shall be taken to prevent any such explosion.

19. precautions in Case of Fire

In every factory, all practicable measures shall be taken to prevent outbreak of fire and its speed, both internally and externally.

20. Employee Fitness Programmes

These programmes involve exercise and recreation facilities.

21. Employee Wellness Programmes

These programmes promote employee health by providing education on health issues, encouraging life style changes designed to reduce the risk of illness, or providing early warning of developing health problems through screening of blood pressure, cholesterol level and the like. Employee fitness and wellness programmes help to improve employee morale, to reduce employee absenteeism and turnover.