BUILDING RULES Building Rules ‘ bai n Rules are provided for in‘The Public Health ACE 2000 a other Acts Oecupa onal Say and Health Act 2006. For proper field P ulate construction Such as The Physical Planning Act, La a Should on aa eaten OCCUPATIONAL. ALTH AND SAFETY INTRODUCTION E volving ma Occupational health and safety is a discipline with remiecope save. 78 MANY specialized fields, iibeing of WTKETS that is the “whole person”. This cll al w OHS, and the magnitude and variety of It encompasses the social, mental and phy: unit aims at providing the general background information 0" an understanding of the ergonomic (the health and safety problems worldwide. It would help develop he design of objects, systems and application of scientific information concerning Haeaaliay ychological and social determinants of environment for human use), physical, chemical, biological, PS! OHS. Occupational health and safety is the discipline ‘concerned with preserving and protecting human resources in the workplace. ‘As per the definition adopted by the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health (1950), in to his job. It deals with all occupational health is the adaptation of work to man and of each mai aspects of health and safety in the workplace and has a stton8 focus on primary prevention of hazards. Ithas the following components. > Promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers in all occupations; lepartures from health caused by their working conditions, > Prevention among workers of d Joyment from tisks resulting from factors adverse to health. > Protection of workers in their emp! nce of a worker in an occupational environment adapted 10 his > Placing and maintenar physiological and psychological equipment. OBJECTIVES OF OHS The prime objective of OHS at a global level is to ensure that health and safety is accessible to every Joyed in any sector across the economy. The World Health Organization (WIIO) since its worker empl rotect the worker inception has included elements of occupational health in its policy, The need to p phasized in from oceupational health hazards and promote safety ofall at the workplace has been em Global key documents of WHO - the Constitution of the WHO, Declarations of Alma Ata Declaration, al resolutions Strategy on Occupational Health for All, WHO General Programmes of Work and sev¢" of the World Health Assembly.fescarch and expe: discuss the need a eri ; ge to discuss the need for 4 ne P tutions from 35 countries, met uP WI" new Global lards for addres essing the Strategy in Occupational Health. The proposed syateey aims 10 et PE stand: "upcoming health and safety needs within the workplace. Italso aims to address the differing conditions Within the workplace as well as the OHS requirement withif countries that are in different stapes of development. According to the document, Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, the ten high priority objectives proposed by the strategy are as follows: > Strengthening of international and national policies for health at work and developing the necessary policy tools Development of healthy work environment Development of healthy work practices and promotion of health at work Strengthening of OHS vvvv Establishing of support services for occupational health Development of occupational health standards based on scientific risk assessment v Development of human resources for occupational health v development of information services for > Establishment of registration and data systems, fF public awareness through public experts, effective transmission of data and raising 0! information > Strengthening of research > Development of collaboration in occupational health and with other activities and services Source: (WHO, 1995, p.3) ‘According to the Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All document the objectives stated above ceiving support from stress upon the significance of “primary prevention” and encourage countries (r WHO), to devise national policies and programmes for occupational health with required infrastructure and resources for occupational health. The importance of devising national policies further lays emphasis on the role of the government. The document therefore lays emphasis on creating policies, structures, systems and activities for addressing OHS needs at the workplace, It highlights the need for adequate support services and human resources for implementing the new strategy. Importance is laid on collaboration within the WIIO, which is between the International Organisations and NGOs and the various disciplines associated th occupational health issues at national and at local levels,HHS 3.1.2 PRINCIPLESOF OM? fi Iti-disciplinary field, cover, ng issues related to law, medicine. Occupational health and safety is 4 ™¥ ecific concerms, ecl The ¢ technology, economics and industt) *F hhe core occupational health and safety Principles put forth by the ILO are a% follows: ; ers, as well > All workers have rights. Wo" i. “employees and government, must ensure that foster ‘ these rights are protected an cent conditions of labor. As the International stated in 1984: healthy environment; Labor Conference + Work should take place in a sale + Conditions of work should be consistent with workers? well-being and human dignity; + Work should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, self-fulfillment and service society'. ‘Conclusions concerning Future Action in the Field of Working Conditions and Environment, adopted by 70% Session of the international Labour Conference on 26 June 1984, section I, paragraph 2. > Occupational health and safety policies must be established. Such policies must be implemented at both the governmental and enterprise levels. They must be effectively communicated to all parties concerned. > There is a need for consultation with the social partners (that is, employers and workers) and other stakeholders. This should be done during the formulation, implementation and review of such policies > Prevention and protection must be the aim of occupational health and safety programmes and policies. Efforts must be focused on primary prevention at the workplace level. Workplaces and working environment should be planned and designed to be safe and healthy. > Information is vital for the development and implementation of and policies. The collection and dissemination of accurate information on ha monitoring of compliance with ffective programmes ards and hazardous materials, surveillance of workplaces, policies and good practices, and other related activities are central to the establishment and the enforcement of effective policies. forts must be > Health promotion isa central element of occupational health practice 1 and social well- being made to enhance workers’ physical, mental Bone 1 workers should be established. Ideally all > Occupational health servi all Services covering whieh ‘ access to such servis workers in all categories of economic activilY should have access tr and improve working conditions Sic aim to protect and nramat-Com Pensatioy 1”, rel es must be made ay, 1 re services must be made avaitay), ‘habilitation and curative nts and work related diseases, nai.” tb 0 worker ce ‘ational injuries, acide! ake, T'6 minimise the consequences of oecupational hazards Ea ducation and training are virgt components of Safe, healthy Working ony Workers and employers mast he made aware of the importance an the ind establishing safe working procedures, Trainers must be trained in argag of "1 > Televance to different industries, which have specific OHS concerns ce > Workers, employers and competent authorities have Certain responsipitii, ¥ : mules and obligations. Kor example, workers must follow establisheg tees Procedures; employers must provide safe workplaces and ensure access to frst sig, and ate and periodically review ang the competent authorities must devise, commut update occupational health and safety policies. » Policies must be enforced. & system of inspection must be in place to secure compliance with occupational health and safety and other labour legislation Source: (ALLI 2001, p17-19) Implementation of such principles requires appropriate legal provisions, administrative enforcement and service systems for occupational safety and health and occupational health services PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AT A WORK PLACE Work is an important component of an individual's daily life. A major proportion of an individual’s life is spent at the workplace, where he or she is expected to display their commitment and sincerity in performing various tasks. In contemporary times, workplaces demand a high degree of expertise and competency from its workers in every task they perform, This means that a worker’s time and quality of work both play key roles in determining their performance and in ensuring the output produced. n that needs to be asked is that are workplaces only emphasizing on the Therefore, the quest performance of tasks and on the output produced? What about the individual? Has any concern been shown towards protecting or restoring the well-being of the worker? This would mean addressing concerns like a worker’s health, safety measures within the workplace, a pleasant and ical, social secure working environment, policies or systems contributing to an employce’s phy and psychological well-being. Thus, approaching the workplace or an occupation from the perspective of health and safety is a crucial requirement and is the very basis of OHS. Work receives considerable attention duc to its social and economic importance. The primary functio of work in any society is to produce and distribute goods and services, Not enough attention is Pjvidual: However, studies have shown that work play the ind F the mportanc tat work STE yop IFetcem anda sense of work. Wok ro and unparalteled psyehologie@! satisfying 204 Personally gratifying. isa there is no economic reward iS® "| chold-work, voluntary work ete OF whieh This refers t0 Work such childcare, care for the sicker js very crucial. The work environment can have a positive or An individual aa env ve enone within the workplace is healthy and secure, which aaa E i ufiiem stuctures and systems that addresses the well-being of the means that if the workplae’ worker, then the worker will be able (0 PS high, Tn other words, the eaneimeaia the workplace has an impact on the individual’s socio- psychological health, which has a Work Environment ———=« Individual (Healthy and safe) (Physial,soeil and psychological well-being) (Higher productivity) When we say safe and secure wook environment, we are not only referring to the availability of safe and hazard free equipment or tools within the workplace, but also aspects such as human relations within the workplace, which have a direct impact on the physical and psychological health of the individual. For example, how do the men behave with the women at the workplace? How is the behavior of an employer towards his of her employee? Does any employee face various forms of harassment such as sexual harassment, bullying from a fellow staff member or a senior, which makes him or her insecure and reduces their productivity, further resulting in illness and health problems? Does the workplace have policies such as a health and safety policy, prevention of sexual harassment policy and other policies, which ensure that everyone working in the work place is secure and is free form better and his or her productivity levels will be very jmpact on the overall output Workplace from stress? These are questions that every workplace should be finding solutions to and addressing The role of the Governing Board or the management of an organisation holds importance, as they are the key people responsible for framing systems and policies within the workplace and implementing them. If the senior management, the Human Resource Department and team leaders or coordinators work towards ensuring a conducive work environment, which is healthy and safe forall workers, then the organisation as a whole will benefit, Particular emphasis should be given to women and children, and there should be enough mechanisms in all workplaces to ensure that their health and safety requirements are addressed, as they are the most vulnerable. In factories, construction work, mines, railway stations, power-plants, jewelry Making, weaving factories etc., workers work in the midst of dust; extreme heat and cold temperatures; strong/bad light and loud sounds, where they face numerous physical, biological, chemical health Hazards, Women and children working in factories with bad Highting or for longer working hourg Pe prone to danger. Thus every workplace must strive towards ie to danger. Thus aste and ethnic identities ensuring the well-bei i : ng the wellbeing of al its employees irrespective of their sex, cl