UNIT IV

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

Industrial Accident:
An industrial accident may be defined as an
occurrence which interferes with the orderly progress of
work in an industrial establishment.
According to factories Act of 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.
INDUSTRIAL INJURY:
An industrial injury has been defined as a
personal injury to an employee which has been caused
by an accident or an occupational disease , and which
arises out of , or in the course of employment , and
which would entitle such employee to compensation
under the Workmens Compensation Act , 1923.

TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
ACCIDENTS

External

Internal

Minor

Major
Fatal

Disability

Temporay

Permanent

Partial

Total

Partial

Total

NATURE OF ACCIDENTS:
The nature of an accident may vary from industry
to industry. An employee may fall from a height while
engaged in particular assignment; or he may caught
in a machine while working on it; or he may fall
against a machine; or explosives used carelessly may
explode and injure an employee. Such accidents may
result in disablement or death.
Disablement whether partial or total may take
the form of a loss of ability to work or to move
A temporary partial disablement reduces the
earning capacity of an individual in the employment
in which he was engaged when he sustained an injury
at the time of the accident.

A permanent partial disablement is that which

reduces his ability to earn an income from any
employment which he was capable of undertaking at
the time of accident occurred. He is entitled to
compensation only to the extent to which his ability
to earn is reduced or impaired.
TOTAL DISABLEMENT:
Total Disablement , on the other hand is a
disablement, whether temporary or permanent ,
which incapacitates a person and makes it impossible
for him to engage in any work which he was capable
of performing at the time of the accident which
resulted in that disablement. In these circumstances
he is entitled to full compensation.

CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS:
The industrial safety experts have classified the
various causes of accidents into three broad
categories
1. Unsafe Conditions (work related causes)
2. Unsafe Acts and
3. Other Causes.

UNSAFE CONDITIONS;
Unsafe conditions include
Improperly guarded equipment.
Defective equipment.
Hazardous arrangements or procedure in and or
around, machines or equipment.
Unsafe storage, congestion, overloading.
Inadequate safety devices.
Wrong and faulty layout, and bad location.
Improper illumination - glare, insufficient light.
Improper Ventilation.
Poor house keeping.

UNSAFE ACTS:
These acts include acts like
Operating without authority.
Failing to secure equipment or warning other
employees of possible danger.
Failing to use safe attire or personal protective
equipment.
Throwing materials on the floor carelessly.
Operating or working at unsafe speeds , either too fast
or too slow.
Making safety devices inoperative by removing,
adjusting, disconnecting them.

 Using unsafe equipment or using equipment unsafely.

Using unsafe procedures in loading, placing, mixing,
combining.
Taking unsafe positions under suspended loads.
Lifting improperly.
Cleaning, adjusting, oiling, repairing, etc. moving a
danger equipment.
Distracting, teasing, abusing, startling, quarrelling,
dry dreaming , horseplay.

OTHER CAUSES:
These causes arise out of unsafe situational and
climate conditions and variations.
Certain board conclusions can be drawn on the
basis of experience and studies undertaken by
psychologists, such as
i. Young, untrained and new workers generally
sustain injuries frequently than older, trained and
experienced employees.
ii. Those addicted to alcoholism and drugs, and
those who suffer from boredom and fatogue or
indulge in exhibitionism, generally account for a
higher rate of accidents.

iii. Unmarried employees generally have more accidents

than married employees.
iv. Accidents are more frequent during the night shift.
v. Women employees have a better safety record than
their male counterparts.
vi. Workers who work under stress, or who feel their
jobs are thereafter insecure, seem to have more
accidents than those who do not.
Accident Proneness:
It is a condition in which a human being is
mentally inclined strongly disposed, attitudinally
addicted or personally destined to become continually
involved in an on going and never ending series of
accidents or injuries.

ACCIDENT COSTS.
Accidents are enormously costly, cause loss directly
or indirectly and the losses are both visible and
invisible.
The various losses which a management suffers
because of the time lost due to accidents are;
i. Direct costs.
ii. Indirect costs and
iii.Overhead costs.

Direct Costs:
Thus includes the wages of employees, six to ten
times the wages because of the loss of goods and
services, compensation and the cost of medical aid, the
cost incurred on training a new worker, loss due to
waste of raw materials and loss of production and
quality arising out of inexperience and lack of skill of
the new employee.
Indirect Costs:
It include the following:
i. The cost to the employee of the time he has been
without work because of his accident.
ii. The cost of the lost time because other
employees stop work out of curiosity, out of sympathy
with the injure employee.

iii. The cost incurred on a machine or tool that might

have been damaged or the cost of spoilage of material
when the accident occurred.
iv. The loss of profit on the production which the
injured employee would have been responsible for,
including the loss incurred because the machine on
which he was working was idle.
v. The loss following the excitement among, or the
weakened morale of, the other employees following the
occurrence of the accident and the consequent lower
productivity throughout the plant.

OVERHEAD COSTS:
This include the expense incurred on light, heat,
rent and such other items which continue to be used
while the injured employee is a non producer.
ACCIDENT MEASUREMENT:
The National Security Council of the United States
has given the following formula for the computation
of accident frequency rates.
Accident Frequency Rate = NO. of disabling work
1,000,000

injuries

total number of man-hours worked.

Severity Rate = Number of mandays lost X 1,000,000

Total number of man hours worked
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
1. Reduction in Unsafe Conditions.
2. Safety Committee
3. Safety Education and Training.
4. Inspection and
5. Role of government.

SIGNIFICANCE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY:

1. It saves costs.
2. It improves productivity.
3. It improves morale
4. Safety is a legal requirement.

STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

IN INDIA:
1. Fencing of Machinery (Section 21)
2. Work on or near machinery in motion (section 22)
3. Employment of adolescents on dangerous
machines (section 23)
4. Striking gear or Device for cutting off power
(section 24)
5. Self Acting machines (section 25)

6. Casting of New Machinery (Section 26)

7. Prohibition of Employment of woman and children
near cotton Openers. (Section 27)
8. Hoists and Lifts. (Section 28)
9. Lifting Machines, tackles (Section 29)
10. Revolving Machinery (section 30)
11. Pressure Plants (section 31)
12. Floor, stairs and other Means of Access (Section
32)
13. Pits and Openings in Floors (section 33)

14. Excessive weights (Section 34)

15. Protection of Eyes ( Section 35)
16. Precaution Against Dangerous Fumes
(Section 36)
17. Explosive or inflammable Gas or Dust
(Section 37)
18. Precaution in Case of Fire (Section 38)
19. Power to require specification of defective
parts or Tests of Stability (Section 39)
20. Safety of Building and machinery. (Section
40)

Accident Reports and Records

Total no. of employees in the unit who are
exposed to different types of accidents
The severity of accidents
Kind of work or occupation in which the
employee was engaged
The date, time and day, shift during
accident occurred
Total number of years during which the
employee was engaged on that particular
job when the accident occurred

 Personal data, including the age and

health of the injured employee
The immediate cause of the accidentwhether it was a result of malfunctioning of
machine or employee failed to use the
safety device

 Safety programme
Safety Organization
Appraisal of Employee Attitude to safety
programme
Safety education and training
Safety contests
Disciplinary action
Accident analysis and tabulation

Prevention of Accidents
Industrial accident prevention,
focuses on the safety of the industrial site
Focus on equipment frequently
Focus on employers
Focus on unsafe conditions
Focus on unsafe acts
Focus on supervisors/foreman
Measures suggested by the tripartite
Technical Conference organised by ILO

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY: WHOSE

RESPONSIBILITY
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY: SAFE
WORKPLACE
MANAGER RESPONSIBILITY:
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY: SAFE
WORKPLACE

SAFETY OFFICER
Formulate safety procedure, safety policy
and to assess critically the safety
requirements and standards
Organize safety education, training

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH:
The World Health Organization (WHO)
has defined health as a state of
complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or illness or infirmity.
TYPES OF HEALTH:
1.Physical Health and
2.Mental Health

Physical Health:
The physical health refers to infirmity in the
employees health. Employees physical
health and his work are intimately related.
While an unhealthy employee works less
quantitatively and qualitatively , commits
accidents, and remains absent from work ,
a healthy employee results opposite to
these.

MENTAL HEALTH:
This refer to the mental soundness of
the employees. AS is physical health
important for good performance, so is
mental health also. Experience suggests
that three factors namely, mental
breakdowns, mental disturbances, and
mental illness impair the mental health of
employees.

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH:
Employee Health is important because it helps
Maintain and improve employee performance both
quantitatively and qualitatively.
Reduce absenteeism and turnover.
Minimize industrial unrest and indiscipline
Improve employee morale and motivation.
Increasing emphasis is given to the employee through
various laws and provisions. For example in India
i. The Royal Commission on Labour(1931)
ii. The Labour Investigation Committee(1946)
iii. The Health Safety and Development
Committee(1943)

iv. The Labour welfare Committee (1969) and

v. The National Commission on Labour(1969)
Te I.L.O in its recommendations envisaged the
importance of employee in these words.
Occupational health services should be
established in or near a place of employment for
the purpose of
Protecting the workers against any health hazard
arising out of work or conditions in which it is
carried on.

 Contributing towards workers physical and

mental adjustment and
Contributing to establishment and
maintenance of the highest possible degree of
physical and mental well-being of the workers.
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND DISEASES:
Employees in certain industries are exposed to
certain occupational hazards and diseases.
Blake has classified occupational hazards into
the following four categories:
1. Chemical Hazards.
2. Biological Hazards.
3. Environmental Hazards and
4. Psychological Hazards

Chemical Hazards:
The common chemical substances such as carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide,
hydrocarbons, sulphuric acid, tannic acid, acetic acid,
fumeric acid etc causes injury to the employee when
they are absorbed through skin and inhaling or
ingesting.
Biological Hazards:
These hazards are manifested by diseases caused by
bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, dietary deficiencies,
excessive drinking, allergies brain fever, imbalances,
tetanus, stresses, and strains. All these tell upon
employees health.

Psychological Hazards:
Industrial / job stress caused by various stressors
such as task and role demands, organizational
leadership, lack of group cohesion, intergroup and
interpersonal conflicts, life and career changes lead to
emotional disturbances which in turn lead to fatigue
and exhaustion. All these affect health of employees.
Environmental Hazards:
Environmental hazards may include noise pollution,
vibration and schocks, illumination, radiation, heat,
ventilation, air and water pollution. These hazards
cause redness of eyes , genetic disorders, cancer,
sterility, hearing loss, nerve injury etc.to workers.

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES:
Occupational diseases are caused by
working conditions prevalent in industries.
The Factories Act 1948 have identified the
following occupational diseases. As per this
act , Such diseases when noticed are to be
notified to the government authorities.
1. Lead Poisoning.
2. Phosphorus poisoning.
3. Mercury poisoning
4. Manganese poisoning.
5. Arsenic Poisoning

6. Antrhax
7. Halogen Poisoning
8. Benzene poisoning
9. Primary skin cancer.
10. Mineral oil poisoning.
11. Chrome ulceration
12. Radiation.
13. Toxic jaundice.
14. Byssionsis
15. Silcosis

PROTECTION AGAINST HAZARDS:

It is classified into two types.
1. Preventive measures and
2. Curative measures.
Preventive Measures:
The preventive measures to protect employee against
occupational health hazards may include
Pre employment medical examination
Periodic post employment medical examination
Removal of hazardous conditions to the extent
possible.

 Emergency treatments in case of accidents

Education of workers in health and hygiene
Training in first-aid to workers.
Proper factory layout and illumination
Proper effflent Disposal treatment plants
Proper redesign of job to remove monotony and
fatigue
Proper scheduling of the work with adequate rest.

CURATIVE MEASURES:
The curative measures begin once a worker actually
suffers from ill-health or sickness or disease. The
curative measures include the following
Adequate and timely medical treatment
Allowing the employee adequate period of
convalescing and recuperating
Adequate compensation
Allowing the needed best medical treatment from
outside hospitals.
Protection for young persons

STATUTORY PROVISIONS CONCERNING HEALTH:

1. Cleanliness
2. Disposal of waste and effluents
3. Ventilation and temperature.
4. Dust and fumes
5. Lightning
6. Overcrowding
7. Clean drinking water
8. Spittoons
9. First-Aid Appliances.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WORK STRESS:

Work stress can be define as the non

specific response of the body to any
demand made upon it.
Stress, in engineering is known as the
ratio of the internal force brought into play
when a substance is distorted to the area
over which the force act.

Generally, the term used to refer to

1. Stimulus (due to external force acting on the
organism)
2. Response ( due to changes in physiological
functions)
3. Interaction ( due to interaction between an external
force and the resistance opposed to it, as in biology
and
4. More comprehensive combination of the above
factors.

Stress as External Pressure:

The stressful situation arises due to
Information Processing
Noxious Environment
Perceived threat
Disrupted psychological function
Isolation and confinement.
Blocking
Group pressures and
Frustrations.

Industrial health Programme

A professional staff of physicians and nurses.
Adequate facilities for emergency care and injuries
sustained in the course of work, and for the conduct of
pre-employment and post-employment medical,
check-ups.
Proper first aid treatment for occupational injuries and
diseases.
A careful post-employment medical examination of
those who are exposed to particular occupational
hazards.

 Reasonable first aid treatment of employees for nonoccupational ailments for example, for cold, sore throat,
skin disorders, headaches and gastrointestinal upsets.
Information and educational services which aim at
promoting the health of employees.
The maintenance of adequate and confidential medical
records.
Co-operation of the company medical officer with those
who are responsible for accident prevention and control
of environment with a view to achieving an integrated
employees health programme.

 Co-operation with public health authorities in

implementing a mass inoculation
programmed and other measures for the
prevention of communicable diseases.
Advise on, and supervision of, the provision
and maintenance of satisfactory, sanitary
condition in the factory premises.