Safety of employees from any hazards related to employment is the responsibility of the employer.
The employer is supposed to take all possible measures to ensure safe working conditions for the employees. Some of the measures essential for safety of employees are as follows:
1. A program of awareness and education of staff about the hazards at work place and how to prevent them and their training in safe and hazard free practices.
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2. Safe, well maintained and hazard free equipment.
3. Elimination of all electrical hazards such as loose temporary connections, provision of adequate number of good quality switches and sockets and periodic (at least once a quarter) inspection of all electrical cables, switches and sockets for timely repairs/ replacements.
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4. Ensuring that the actual power load does not exceed the permitted limits. It is not only illegal but hazardous also.
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5. Safe storage and handling of diesel, inflammable chemicals as well as gases as per the laid down policies and procedures.
6. Ensuring that there is an effective and fully reliable system of fire prevention and control with fire-fighting equipment in adequate quantity and fully operational at all times.
7. Availability of all the essential personal protective equipment in adequate quantity and training of staff in their optimal utilization.
8. Allocation of duties as per the competence of the individuals and ensuring that no untrained/unqualified individuals are put on hazardous jobs.
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9. New recruits not to be put on independent duties at hazardous places until the supervisor is satisfied that they are competent and fully acquainted with their work place.
10. Making available, the immediate first aid kits at all work stations prone to any hazards and training the staff in use of first aid kits.
11. Display of ‘hazard’ signs for warning of employees (as well as patients/public) so as to ensure all precautionary measures.
12. Adopting the principles of lean management to prevent unnecessary cluttering and make the work place safe and hazard free.
13. Creating an organization wide culture of safety where every employee not only himself observes all safety precautions but looks over his/her co-workers as well for observance of safety precautions.
14. In addition to the above, steps have to be taken to ensure safety and security of vulnerable group of employees such as women in view of the extra vulnerability of female employees.
The Delhi Shops and Establishments Act lays down certain restrictions on the maximum daily work hours and the type of work done by them.
Apart from the usual occupational hazards, women have to be protected against any sexual harassment, assault, rape or molestation also.
The type of duties they perform, their work places and the working hours have to be such (between 8AM to 8 PM in winters and 7 AM to 9 PM in summers) as do not pose any extra danger to them while traveling to and from the work place.
They should not be put on duty at lonely/unsafe places and should not be put on night shifts unless the employer can ensure safe work place and provide safe pick and drop facility for them.