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UNIT – IV
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
Causes of Accidents – Prevention – Safety Provisions – Industrial Health and Hygiene –
Importance – Problems – Occupational Hazards – Diseases – Psychological problems –
Counseling – Statutory Provisions.

Table of Contents
1. INDUSTRIAL SAFETY .................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3

1.2 Need and Objectives of Industrial Safety............................................................................................ 3

1.3 Safety Program.................................................................................................................................... 3

2. INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT.............................................................................................................................. 6

2.1 Meaning and Definition Industrial Accident ....................................................................................... 6

2.2. Accidents Reports and Records ......................................................................................................... 6

2.3 Losses Due to Accidents ...................................................................................................................... 6

2.4 Causes of Accidents ............................................................................................................................ 7

2.5 Prevention of Accidents ...................................................................................................................... 8

2.6 Safety Provisions under Factories Act................................................................................................. 8

3. INDUTRIAL HEALTH ................................................................................................................................. 12

3.1 Meaning and Definition of Industrial Health .................................................................................... 12

3.2 Importance and Need of Industrial Health ....................................................................................... 12

3.3 Causes of Bad Health ........................................................................................................................ 12

3.4 Suggestion & Measures to improve health conditions ..................................................................... 12

3.5 Statutory Provisions for Industrial Health......................................................................................... 13

3.6 Problems of Health Faced by Employees in Various Industries ........................................................ 14

3.7 Recommendations of the National Commission on Labor against Health ....................................... 15

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4. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE .............................................................................................................................. 16

4.1 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene .................................................................................................... 16

4.2 Objectives of Industrial Hygiene ....................................................................................................... 16

4.3 Principles of Industrial Hygiene ........................................................................................................ 16

4.4 Personal Hygiene .............................................................................................................................. 16

4.5 Hygiene Education ............................................................................................................................ 17

4.6 Occupational Hazards ....................................................................................................................... 18

4.7 Occupational Diseases ...................................................................................................................... 19

4.8 Psychological Problems ..................................................................................................................... 20

4.9 Occupational Health Services ........................................................................................................... 22

4.10 Industrial Hygienists ........................................................................................................................ 22

4.11 Importance of Industrial Heal Hygiene ........................................................................................... 23

4.12 Problems of Industrial Health and Hygiene .................................................................................... 23

5. COUNSELING ........................................................................................................................................... 24

5.1 Meaning and Definition of Counseling ............................................................................................. 24

5.2 Characteristics of Counseling ............................................................................................................ 24

5.3 Objectives or Goals of Counseling .................................................................................................... 24

5.4 Participants in Counseling ................................................................................................................. 24

5.5 Steps/Phases of Counseling Process ................................................................................................. 25

5.6 Types of counseling ........................................................................................................................... 26

5.7 Functions of counseling .................................................................................................................... 26

5.8 Counseling Intervention .................................................................................................................... 27

5.9 Psychological Counseling .................................................................................................................. 27

5.10 Work place counseling .................................................................................................................... 29

5.11 Issues considered for industrial counseling .................................................................................... 29

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1. INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
1.1 Introduction
Safety, in simple terms, means freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury or loss. Industrial
safety or employee safety refers to the protection of workers from the danger of industrial
accidents.

1.2 Need and Objectives of Industrial Safety

Loss of Human Lives: An injured employee not, only suffers physical pain but also undergoes
mental pain due to sudden uncertainty about his future. So, there is a need for industrial safety.
Accident Avoidance: Employee safety reduces the possibility of industrial accidents by
installing the necessary safety devices properly and educating the employees about the safety
aspects.
Cost Prevention: It reduces and then prevents direct and indirect costs incurred by the
organization due to serious industrial accidents.
Improved Employee satisfaction and commitment: Safety promotes an occupational
environment that provides adequate employee satisfaction and motivation. In general, employees
have the expectation that their employers would offer them a safer environment for doing their
jobs. The fulfillment of these expectations often provides the employees with job satisfaction and
motivation.
Legal Compliance: Employee safety fulfills with all the laws governing the safety and health of
the employees at the workplace. Organizations undertake employee safety measures not only to
provide employee satisfaction and HR cost reduction but also to fulfill legal requirements.
Better Industrial Relations: 'Employee safety brings friendliness and agreement in the labor-
management relations. In the long run, the absence of serious accidents can help organizations
achieve good industrial relationship in the organization.
Increase Productivity: Employees in safe plants can give more time to improving the quality
and quantity of their output and spend less time worrying about their safety and well being.
Raise Employee Moral: Safety is important on humane grounds too. Managers must undertake
accident prevention measures to minimize the pain and suffering the injured worker and his/her
family.

1.3 Safety Program

Principles of safety Program

i) The 'most important function of safety programs is to identify potential hazards,

& provide effective safety

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ii) Adequate accident records and statistics

iii) Systematic procedures for carrying-out safety checks, inspections, & investigations
iv) Methods of ensuring that safety equipment is maintained and used
v) The safety policies of the organization should be determined by the top management and it
must be continuously involved in monitoring safety performance and in ensuring that corrective
action is taken when necessary
vi)
All employees should be given thorough training in safe methods of work

Process of safety program

 Strategic Choices: The first step in a safety program is for managements to make decisions
regarding safety of their workers.

i) Level of Protection: Managers must determine the level of protection the organization
will provide for employees.
ii) Formal or Informal: Managers can decide whether a safety program will be formal or
informal. Formal programs will have written regulations and are carefully
monitored. Informal regulations are enforced through take in pressure or good
training.
iii) Proactive or Reactive: Managers can also be proactive or reactive in developing
procedures or plans with respect to employee safety. Proactive managers seek to
improve the safety of employees prior to a need to do so, while reactive managers fix
safety problems after they occur.
iv) Safety of Workers as a Marketing Tool: Managers can decide to use the safety of
workers as a marketing tool for the organization
.
 Development of Safety Policy: The second step in evolving a safety program is to have a
safety policy. A policy specifies the company's goals and designates the responsibilities and
authority for their achievement.

 Organization for Safety: Companies constitute safety committees which are, composed of
employees across the organization. Many companies employ safety specialists to design and
handle the day-to-day activities of the safety program.

(The top management cannot absolve itself of the responsibility of ensuring employee safety. In
fact, the Managing Director of the company is held responsible for an accident and is punishable
with fine, imprisonment or both. )

 Analysis of Causes of Accidents: Causes may be classified into two groups:

i) Human Failure: Human failure leads to an accident when the employee ignores safety
Precautions and commits an unsafe act. Majority of accidents occur because of human \
failure.
ii) Machine Failure. Machine failure refers to faulty mechanical or physical conditions leading to
accidents.

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 Implementing the Policy:

i) Procedures for reporting accidents, hazards, fire precautions, first-aid.
ii) Arrangements for instructing workers about safe working methods and for
training employees in safety matters. .
iii) The maintenance of equipment and the provision of proper inspection and
testing arrangements.
vi) General rules on safe working habits.
v) Special rules for internal transport drivers.
vi) Arrangement for checking new machinery and materials.
vii) Safety inspections.
viii) Suggestions on safety matters.

 Evaluation of Effectiveness: They can be classified as systemic or organic.

Organic methods attempt to evaluate how well the safety program is designed and fulfilled. The
concern in systemic is with the effects of the program.

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2. INDUSTRIAL ACCDENT

2.1 Meaning and Definition Industrial Accident

An accident is an unplanned and uncontrolled event in which an action or reaction of an object, a
substance, a person, or a radiation results in personal injury.

2.2. Accidents Reports and Records

Proper reports and records of accidents have to be maintained by an organization in the
prescribed manner and complete information about an accident and the circumstances attending
the death or any other serious injury to him has to be submitted to the government.

Accident records should be maintained in detail and should contain the following items:

1) The total number of employees in the unit, who are uncovered to different type accidents,
2) The harshness of the accident - whether it resulted in a broken bone, a deep cut – and the time
that was lost as a result of it,
3) The kind of work or occupation in which the employee was engaged,
4) The date, time and day, and the shift, during which the accident occurred,
5) The total number of years during which the employee was engaged on that particular job when
the accident occurred,
6) Personal data, including the age and health of the injured employee, and
7) The immediate cause of the accident

2.3 Losses Due to Accidents

-- Social Loss: If a worker happen to die in some industrial accidents, women loss their
husbands and children loss their father. Many women lose their only sons. As a result, their
social life is distributed.
-- Individual Loss: Many workers happen to lose their member in accidents. Some of them may
lose their eyes. Thus they become disabled and helpless. Accidents make their life miserable.
-- Property Loss: An accident may cause huge property loss. Buildings and machines may be
affected due to severe accidents. Too much money and time will be required to rebuild the
industry and to rehabilitate the affected workers and their families.

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2.4 Causes of Accidents

 Unsafe Conditions: Unsafe conditions are work-related causes and are the most frequent
causes of accidents.

i) Nature of Job: Nature of a job itself is a source of accidents. Some jobs are more level to
accidents as compared to others.
ii) Nature of Machinery and Equipments: Some machinery and equipments have high danger
zones as compared to others. For example, about one-third of accidents occur around hand lift
trucks, wheel borrows, and other handling and lifting equipments.
iii) Poor Physical, Conditions:
a) Hazardous layout of plant and machinery
b) Defective work procedure in and around machinery and equipments
c) Defective machinery and equipments
e) Inadequate and faulty safety devices etc
f) Insufficient light.
g) Improper ventilation causing insufficient air charge and impure air source.
iv) Psychological Climate at the Workplace: Psychological factors are in the form of mental
tiredness, worry, dullness, boredom, dissatisfaction, and other emotion affecting factors. All
these factors cause inattention in the workers and they become level to the accidents
v) Work Schedules: Work schedules involving long hours of continuous working generate
tiredness which may be cause of accidents. Similarly, night shifts generate more accidents as
people are not used to working in night which is considered to be the rest period

 Unsafe Acts:
i) Operating without authority
ii) Failing to use personal safety equipment
iii) Operating or working at unsafe speeds
vi) Using unsafe procedures in loading, packing, mixing etc
v) Using unsafe equipments
vi) Lifting improperly, etc.

 Other Causes:
i) Bad working conditions.
ii) Rough and slippery floors.
iii) Behavior of dominating supervisors.
iv) Carelessness in handling dangerous materials.
v) Untrained employees.

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2.5 Prevention of Accidents

Use of Safety Device: Workers should be encouraged to adopt various safety devices like
special kinds of gloves, special kinds of spectacles which protect the eyes and other tool by
which machine can be operated from a safe distance, without ever being touched by human hand.
Safety Campaigns and Posters: Safety campaigns aim at generating and maintaining
continuous safety consciousness. Posters and slogans should also be used. Posters should be used
in such a way to attract maximum attention. They must be unique.
Safety, Committees: They generally include a safety officer, welfare officer and some
representatives of workers. Whose main tasks are to discover potential hazards, and find out
whether there are careless workers, whether workers use safety devices and safety measures.
They also collect safety data and call for safety suggestions from workers and, educate them in
the various aspects of safety in a department or plant.
Safety Training: Safety training is mainly concerned with teaching safer methods of work and
focusing on the hazards of an occupation. Safety training is sometimes necessary even for
experienced employees when new equipments or machines are introduced.
Safety Habits: Faulty habits like working without appropriate rest periods, unmindful safety
measures etc should be avoided.
Safety Consciousness: If the management becomes safety conscious, the rate of accident
frequency is lowered.
Attention to Individual Differences: Many accidents take place because the worker is required
to perform some work, which is beyond his physical capacity. Women, for example, cannot do
heavy work and if they are asked to do it, accidents become predictable.
Means of removing tiredness: The most important method in this connection is to provide-
properly timed rest at frequent intervals so that the worker can gain his energy and avoid
reaching a stage of complete tiredness.
Environmental Factors: The important point here is that a good-natured, stress free and
comfortable working atmosphere should be generated to prevent irritations and tensions of all
types.
Education Measures: Certain educational measures can also be used through audiovisual
education such as TV, motion pictures, and the radio etc. To educate the workers on the
importance of not taking risks while driving or operating a machine.
Speed of Work: Speed of work must not be very fast, as it is likely lead to accidents. Drivers
who often drive at high speeds are very frequently involved in accidents.

2.6 Safety Provisions under Factories Act

 Fencing of machinery: - In every factory, measures should be taken for secured fencing of
machinery. Fencing is necessary in respect of:
a. Every moving part of a prime mover;
b. Every part of an electric generator, a motor or a rotary convertor;
c. Every part of transmission machinery; and
d. Every dangerous part of any other machinery.

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 Safety measures in case of work on or near machinery in movement:-

Where in any factory, it becomes necessary to check any part of machinery, while the
machinery is in movement, such inspection shall be carried out only by specially trained
adult male workers. Such workers shall wear tight fitting clothing and their names shall
be recorded in the register prescribed in this connection. No woman or young person
shall be allowed to clean, adjust any part of machinery, while the machinery is in
movement.

 Restriction on women or young person to work on such machines :- Restriction on

women or young person to work on such machines nearby dangerous machines

 Employment of young person on dangerous machines :-

The Factories Act prohibits employment of young person’s on certain types of machines
as specified under Sec.23 of the Act. Young person should have received sufficient
training in work at such machines. They should be under adequate supervision by a
person who has a thorough knowledge and experience of the machines.

 New machinery:-
The State government is authorized to make rules specifying further safeguards to be
provided in respect of any dangerous part or new machinery of any particular machine

 Prohibition of employment of women and children near cotton openers:-

No women or child shall be employed in any part of a factory where pressing a cotton–opener is
at work.

 Hoists and lifts:-

They shall be properly maintained, and shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at
least once in every period of six months. A register shall be kept containing the prescribed
particulars of each such examination.

 Revolving (Rotating) machinery:-

A notice indicating the maximum safe working nonessential speed of every revolving machinery
shall be put up in every room in a factory in which the process of grinding is carried on.

 Pressure (force) plant:-

If in any factory, any part of the plant or machinery used in manufacturing process is operated at
a pressure above atmospheric pressure (force), effective measures shall be taken to ensure that
the safe working pressure of such part is not exceeded.

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 Floors, Stairs and means of access:-

a) All floors, steps, stairs shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.
b) There shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, be provided, and maintained safe means of
access to every place at which any person is at any time required to work.

 Pits, opening in floors etc: - which may be a source of danger, shall be either securely.
Securely fencing a pit means covering it in such a way that it ended to be a source of danger.

 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 an injury.

 Protection of eyes: - If the manufacturing process carried on in any factory is such that it
involves
Risk to the eyes by reason of exposure to excessive lights, effective screens or suitable
spectacles shall be provided for the protection of persons employed on, or in the immediate
nearness of, the process.

 Precautions against dangerous fumes, gases, etc:-

If any manufacturing process in the factory produces dust, gas, fume of such a nature as is likely
to explode on sudden increase; measures shall be taken to prevent any such explosion by:
a. Effective enclosure of the plant or machinery used in the process;
b. Removal or prevention of the accumulation of such dust gas, fume or vapour;

 Precautions in case of fire:-

a. Every door, window or other exit affording a means to escape in case of fire shall be
distinctively marked in a language understood by the majority of the workers. Such marking
should be in red letters of adequate size or some other effective and clearly understood sign.
b. An effective and clearly audible means of giving warning, in case of fire, to every person shall
be provided in the factory.

 Safety of Building & Machinery:-

In case it appears that any building, machinery or plant in a factory is in such a condition that
it is dangerous to human life or safety, the manager of the factory should prohibit the use of such
building or machinery, until it has been repaired or altered.

 Safety Officer:-

 In every factory --
(i) Wherein one thousand or more workers are ordinarily employed, or

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(ii) wherein, in the opinion of the State Government, any manufacturing process which involves
any risk of injury, poisoning or disease, or any other hazard to health, to the persons employed in
the factory if so required by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, employ
such number of Safety Officers as may be specified in that notification.
 The duties, qualifications and conditions of service of Safety Officers shall be such as may
be prescribed by the State Government.]

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3. INDUTRIAL HEALTH

3.1 Meaning and Definition of Industrial Health

The term "health" is a positive and dynamic concept and implies more than an absence of illness.
W.H.O. has defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease." Industrial health refers to a system of public health and
preventive medicine, which is applicable to industrial concerns.

3.2 Importance and Need of Industrial Health

1) Reduces absenteeism and labor turnover rate.
2) Improves the efficiency and productivity of the workers.
3) Reduces indiscipline.
4) Lessons industrial anger.
5) Improves motivation and morale.
6) Reduces occupational diseases.
7) Enables the workers to work for longer periods of work.
8) Reduces spoilage and cost of operation.
9) Reduces industrial unrest.

3.3 Causes of Bad Health

--Defective Nutrition: The industrial worker does not get the required categories of food to
maintain his health because he is low paid and cannot arrange for healthy food
-- Illiteracy: Workers in India are uneducated and poor and therefore they do not care much for
their health.
--Unclean: Frequency of unclean conditions in industries is the main cause of bad industrial
health.
--Inadequate Medical and Health Organization: Existing medical and preventive health
organizations are inadequate. The employers are indifferent to the problem.
--Other Causes: Other causes include:
i) Bad climatic conditions under which the work is performed.
ii) Long hours of work.

3.4 Suggestion & Measures to improve health conditions

--- Improvement in Nutrition and Housing Conditions: Unclean conditions of living are the
main causes of bad health and thereof, efforts should be made towards improving the diet and
housing conditions first

--- Regular Medical Check Up: As suggested by National Commission on Labor, there should
be a regular medical check-up of all new employees and regular periodical check-up of all
employees from time to time. This will help to:

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i) Eliminate those, whose health is not fit for job and those who suffer from transmissible
diseases
iii) Maintain the health of those who are healthy.
--- Education and Training in Industrial Health: Education and training is essential for
capacity building. A specific function is to teach searching and applying high quality information
effectively and efficiently.
--- Study of Environmental Factors: It should be the duty of every employer to study the
effects of environment factors on the health of the workers and plan the preventive measures.
--- Control upon Noise: The employer should have control over noise pollution. In such
situation the person may suffer from temporary hearing loss or permanent hearing loss.
--- Proper Lighting Arrangement: The employer should arrange proper light for his employees
because poor lightning may cause problems related to eye sight among the employees.
--- Legislative Measures: Government launches programs for employees’ health and benefits.
--- Special Advisory Committee: The special advisory committee should be formed for
improving health conditions of in the industry. The advisory committee should look after each
and every aspect of employee’s health and safety.

3.5 Statutory Provisions for Industrial Health

 Cleanliness (sec 11):- Every factory shall be kept clean and free from smell arising from any
drain, or other irritation. It is specifically provided that in a factory—
a. The floor of every room shall be cleaned. This shall be done at least once every week
b. Varnished, and repainted at least once in a period of five years, cleaned at least once
in a period of 14 months as may be approved by the Government.
c. The white washing or color washing shall be carried out at least once in every period
of 14 months.
 Disposal of waste: - Section 12: This section specifies on disposal of wastes and effluents
(odor). That every factory should make effective arrangements for the treatment of wastes
and effluents (odor) due to the manufacturing process carried on therein.

 Ventilation and temperature: - Section 13: This section focuses on ventilation and
temperature maintenance at workplace. Every factory should work on proper arrangements
for adequate ventilation and circulation of fresh air.
 Dust and fume: - Section 14: (This section details on the proper exhaustion of dust and fume
in the Factory. In this it is mentioned that factory which deals on manufacturing process
should take care of the proper exhaustion of dust, fume and other impurities from its origin
point.)

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In every factory, where due to manufacturing process, dust or fume arise which is likely
to be damaging to the health of workers, effective measures shall be taken to prevent its
breathing. If it is necessary to install exhaust appliances, it would be installed near the
point of origin of the dust, fumes.
 Overcrowding: - The Chief Inspector of factories by order in writing shall fix the maximum
member of workers to be employed in each room in the factory because overcrowded leads
to injurious to the health.
 Lighting: - The Factories Act provides for sufficient and suitable lighting, natural or artificial
where workers are working or passing through.
 Drinking water: - Section 18: This section specifies regarding arrangements for sufficient
and pure drinking water for the workers. There are also some specified provisions for
suitable point for drinking water supply. As in that drinking water point should not be within
6 meters range of any washing place, urinal, latrine, spittoon, open drainage carrying
effluents. In addition to this a factory where there are more than 250 workers provisions for
cooling drinking water during hot temperature should be made.
 Restrooms: - Section 19: This section provides details relating to restroom construction at
factories. It mentions that in every factory there should be sufficient accommodation for
restroom which should be provided at conveniently situated place. It should be kept clean
and maintained. Spittoons: - Section 20: This section specifies regarding proper
arrangements of spittoons in the factory. It is mentioned that in every factory there should be
sufficient number of spittoons situated at convenient places and should be properly
maintained and cleaned and kept in hygienic condition.

3.6 Problems of Health Faced by Employees in Various Industries

a. Health Problems in Chemical Industries: Complete protection is provided to the employee
in the chemical industries such as protective ensemble and outfit to be worn in chemical industry
and regular medical check-ups, but if the employee does not withhold utmost efforts to avoid
carelessness in the chemical industries then he could have exact health problems which include
various form of skin and body diseases
b. Health Related Problems in Tobacco Industry: In the tobacco industry, the most common
problem the employee faces is lung problem. Some employee also develops certain breathing
issues such as difficulty in breathing and pain in inhaling. This is a serious health issue and to
counter it the tobacco industry have enforced several precaution measures and means to protect
the health interest of the employee
c. Health Related Problems in Business Industry: Working under a strict management and in
pressure can cause strict health problems to the employees, which includes mental illness, blood
pressure and even a possibility of a heart attack. It has been observed that the employee working
under stressful conditions develops several psychological problems during his employment
career which is very dangerous to the health of the individual. Even unfair treatment of
employees in a business organization can lead to health issues and mental stress.

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d. Health Related Problem in Factories: Working in factories and performing hard labor could
also result in health related problems. If an employee is in the industry performing heavy labor
such as actively participating in the shifting of heavy equipments then he could develop bodily
pain and muscle problems. There are also many other health factor that may bother the employee
during the working hours such as physical tiredness, stress, etc.

3.7 Recommendations of the National Commission on Labor against Health

The National Commission on Labor recommended the following relevant industrial
health measure for:
a. Protecting the workers against any health hazards which may arise out of their work
conditions.
b. Contributing towards the workers' physical and mental adjustment, in particular by the
adaptation of workers to the jobs for which they are suited; and
c. Contributing to the establishment and maintenance of the highest possible degree of physical
and mental well-being of the workers.

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4. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

4.1 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene

Industrial hygiene refers to the science or art devoted to the prevention, recognition, evaluation,
and control of hazards or stresses in the workplace which may cause illness, injury, or significant
discomfort.

4.2 Objectives of Industrial Hygiene

a. Protecting the labor working in all the occupations from diseases.
b. Maintaining the highest standard of their physical, mental, and social welfare.
c. Protecting the workers from diseases and accidents caused by their working conditions and its
ill effects on their health.
d. Making adjustments between the work and the nature of individual.
e. Making attempts to improve health.
f. Arrangements for early analysis and treatment.
g. Providing protection against impairment/disability.
h. Regular health check-ups, maintaining health records, making arrangements for proper
nutrition and health education.
i. Providing treatment facilities.

4.3 Principles of Industrial Hygiene

Occupational hygiene practice is based upon the following principles:
a. Environmental health hazards in the workplace can be measured quantitatively, and expressed
in terms related to the degree of stress caused.
b. Continuous observation of the work environment must be carried out.

4.4 Personal Hygiene

(A good standard of hygiene helps in preventing the development and spread of infections,
illnesses, and bad odors. The importance of personal hygiene should continually be brought
home to the industrial worker.)

a. Personal Reasons: Many people, women in particular, are very conscious of their hygienic
needs and practices. They learn the importance of hygiene from an early age, from school
education. Self-esteem, confidence, and motivation can all be changed by our body image and by
keeping good hygiene practices.
b. Social Reasons: There is possibility to project a positive body image that reflects good
personality. Workers should be taught the importance of hygiene and how to achieve good
hygiene very early to keep themselves and others healthy, and to reduce the risk

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c. Health Reasons: Sometimes when a person is going to a hospital, he/she becomes very aware
of his/her hygiene. Proper and frequent hand washing is essential to prevent an excess of
illnesses and disorders from developing. Many people forget to wash their hands before handling
foods which can cause many illnesses and even death.
d. Psychological Issues: By being well presented, clean and neat, people can feel more confident
especially in social situations. Psychological issues can influence our levels of confidence and
self-esteem which can affect many aspects of our lives.

4.5 Hygiene Education

Where housing is provided for workers, as on plantations, there is a further responsibility and
opportunity to provide conditions helpful to personal hygiene.

Hygiene education program

a) Instructs on risks and advises on personal behavior with skill and sympathy.
b) Provides positive health instruction to encourage a healthy use of spare time and rest.
c) Advises to carry-out physical exercise
d) Stresses the importance of personal hygiene, cleanliness, adequate health measures
within the factory.
e) Advertises by means of posters, notices on works and office boards, articles and
magazines and lectures to make the factory health-minded.

Behaviors to be recommended in Hygiene Education

a. Water Source
i) All children, women, and men in the community should use safe water sources for
drinking and food preparation.
ii) Adequate water should be used for hygiene purposes such as bathing, household
cleanliness, and clothes washing. .

b. Water Treatment
i) Simple purification procedures like chlorination should be carried-out on the water
source if necessary.
ii) If necessary, water should be filtered to remove any solid material, worm, etc.

c. Water Collection
i) Drinking water should be collected in clean vessels without coming into contact with
hands and other materials.
ii) Water should be transported in covered containers.
d. Water Storage
i) Water should be stored in vessels that are covered and regularly cleaned.
ii) Drinking water should be stored in separate containers from other domestic water
wherever possible.

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e. Drinking Water: Drinking water should be taken from the storage vessel in such a
way that hands, cups or other objects cannot infect the water.
f. Water Use: Adequate amounts of water should be available and used for personal and
domestic hygiene. (It is estimated that a minimum of 30-40 liters per person per day are
needed for personal and domestic hygiene.)
g. Food Handling
i) Hands should be washed with soap or ash before food is prepared or eaten.
ii) Vegetables and fruits should be washed with safe water and food should be properly
covered.
h. Wastewater disposal: - Household waste water should be disposed of or re-used
properly. Measures should be taken to ensure that wastewater is not allowed to create
mosquitos and other disease

Dissemination (broadcasting or spreading) of Hygiene Education

(Hygiene education allows people to become better informed or more aware of the
influences affecting their health and when combined with some of the other components
of health promotion, enables people to make positive behavior changes, The hygiene
education can be disseminated in one of two broad ways )

a. Face-to-Face Channels: The face-to-face channels of communication include person-

to-person contact on an individual basis, and contact with larger numbers of people
through talks or focus groups.
b. Mass Media: The distribution of hygiene messages through the mass media is a
common mechanism used to achieve behavior change and to distribute information. One
must stress that this role is only as a supportive role to other involvement such as
improving the physical and social environment.

4.6 Occupational Hazards

A hazard is something that can cause harm if not controlled. The outcome is the harm that results
from an uncontrolled hazard. e.g., environmental damage

Common Workplace Hazards

a. Chemical Hazards: Chemical hazards generate from certain chemicals and gases such as
Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, SulphurDioxidc, Hydrocarbon, Ozone,
various Acids, etc. These chemicals and gases may either affect skin or internal parts of the body
through inhalation and may cause various diseases.

Examples
Liquids like cleaning products, paints, acids, solvents especially chemicals in an unlabelled
container (warning sign).

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b. Biological Hazards: Biological hazards are in the form of Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Insects,
etc., which cause various diseases. Besides, food deficiencies, excessive drinking, allergies, etc.,
also are the sources of diseases.
c. Psychological Hazards: Psychological hazards are in the form of stress and worry arousing
conditions. While many improper physical conditions existing at the workplace may produce
stress and worry, there may be many stress generating psychological factors such as fear of loss
of job.
d. Physical Hazards: Physical hazards are most common and are present in most workplaces at
one time or another. They include unsafe conditions that can cause injury, illness and death
Examples
i) Electrical hazards - missing ground pins, improper wiring.
e. Ergonomic Hazards: Ergonomic hazards occur when the type of work, body position and
working conditions put strain (tension) on the body. They are the hardest to spot since you do not
always immediately notice the strain on your body or the harm these hazards pose. Examples
i) Poor lighting,
ii) Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs,
iii) Frequent lifting, etc

4.7 Occupational Diseases

An occupational disease is defined as a condition produced in the work environment over a

period longer than one workday or shift. Usually an illness is due to repetitive factors over a
period of time. It may result from systemic infection, repeated stress

Types of Occupational Diseases

An industrial worker can be exposed to the following types of occupational diseases,

based upon his occupation:
a. Lead Poisoning: Early symptoms of lead poisoning are loss of hunger, sickness, vomiting,
and stomach pains. In chronic form, it results in headache and joint pains etc.
b. Phosphorus Poisoning: Yellow phosphorous is poisonous. It is used in the manufacture of
certain types of short-tempered. It enters the body in the form of fumes and has destructive
action on the bones, especially of the jaw. Early signs of phosphorous poisoning are toothache
and pain in the jaw
c. Mercury Poisoning: Mercury is a highly poisonous substance, and when inhaled, causes
poisonous effects. Laboratory workers, electric meter repairers, refiners of gold and silver are
normally the persons who come in frequent contact with this substance. Long and continued
inhalation of even small amount of mercury vapors affects the brain.
d. Manganese Poisoning: Manganese dioxide is poisonous. Inhalation and absorption of its dust
or fumes results in inflammation of lungs.
e. Anthrax: This is a disease of animals. Men engaged in handling wool or animal parts
including hoofs and horns are likely to be affected by it. The germs enter the skin through a cut
or scratch on it. Woolen carpet makers, etc should be careful about it.

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f. Silicosis: It is caused by inhaling dust containing silica. Silica is present in rocks, clays,
common sand, and sandstones. It gradually eats away the lungs causing respiratory trouble in the
beginning and ends in spitting of blood and a painful death. This disease is incurable.
g. Asbestosis (mineral fiber occurs in rocks and soil): It affects workers engaged in handling
and crushing of basic asbestos (mineral).
h. Bagassosis: - The symptoms consist of breathlessness, cough, and slight fever.
i. Coal Miner's Pneumoconiosis (diseases of lungs): It may be "caused due to employment in
coal mining.
j. Telegraphic Cramp: Telegraphists suffer from this disease because of the degree of accuracy,
speed of work, and concentration required for the job.
k. Caisson Disease: Those working caisson on harbor construction or in the building of tunnels
may suffer from this disease. It occurs when certain harmful gases get dissolved in blood cells.
l. Byssinosis: It affects the lungs of the textile workers due to inhalation of cotton fiber dust over
a long period of time.
m. Skin Diseases: These diseases are caused by such irritants as acids, solvents etc.

Preventive & Curative Measures for Occupational Diseases

a. Preventive Measures: Preventive measures include:
i) Pre-employment and periodic medical examination;
ii) Removal of health hazards to the extent possible;
iii) Emergency treatment for accidents; and
vi) Training of first-aid personnel and education of workers in health and hygiene.
b. Curative Measures: The curative aspect will begin once a worker suffers from ill health or
disease. The statutory provisions in labor laws for safeguarding the health of workers are as
follows:
i) Restrictions on employment of women at certain hours and places;
ii) Protection for young person’s;
iii) Provisions of first aid and ambulance services;
iv) Provisions relating to cleanliness, disposal of waste, ventilation and temperature, and dust,
fumes and lighting.

4.8 Psychological Problems

Psychological problem is a pattern of behavioral psychological symptoms that impact multiple

life areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms.

a. Depression: It is a state of low mood and dislike to activity that affect a person's thoughts,
behavior, feelings and physical well-being. It may include feelings of sadness, worry, emptiness,
hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, irritability, or restlessness. -

Some symptoms of depression are as follows:

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i) Sadness, anxiety, or "empty" feelings.

ii) Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down".
iii) Feelings of helplessness, guilt and worthlessness.

b. Anxiety (worry) Disorders: It is normal to worry and feel tense or scared when under
pressure or facing a stressful situation. Anxiety is the body's natural response to danger, an
automatic alarm that goes off when we feel threatened.
Symptoms
i) Feeling tense and jumpy,
ii) Irritability,
iii) Restlessness,
vi) Feeling like your mind is gone blank.

c. Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease

Symptoms
i) Loss of interest in everyday activities;
ii) Appearing to lack emotion;
iii) Reduced ability to plan or carry-out activities;
iv) Neglect of personal hygiene;
v) Social withdrawal;

d. Impulse Control Disorders: People who have impulse control disorders cannot avoid doing
things that might bring harm to themselves or others. Typically, people with this problem feel
some type of increasing worry before committing the action, like pressure building-up. Then,
after the action, they feel relief or even happiness, despite the possibly dangerous consequences.
For example, pathological gambling

e. Personality Disorders: Personality disorders are a group of mental illness conditions in which
a person's long-term (chronic) behaviors, emotions, and thoughts are very different from their
culture's expectations and cause serious problems with relationships and work.
One may find it difficult to:
i) Make or keep relationships;
ii) Get on with people at work;
iii) Get on with friends and family;
iv) Keep out of trouble;
v) Control your feelings or behavior.
Effects
People feel that they are:
i) Unhappy or distressed, and
ii) Upset or harm other people.
People suffering from personality disorder may always feel unhappy and upset; this would
reduce their productivity and level of satisfaction from their respective job.

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f. Family Problems: The family is considered the center and structure of our society. In any
year, atleast 15 per cent of the workforce, or about one in every seven employees, are likely to be
faced with personal problems that significantly affect their job performance.

4.9 Occupational Health Services

(Occupational health deals with work-related diseases and all factors' that affect community
health within it. The inadequate surveillance of employees is the most important reason for
increased prevalence of work-related and other non-communicable lifestyle diseases at
workplace.)

Role of Occupational Health Services

1) Identify occupational hazards and suggest measures for their control;
2) Detect occupational or other diseases and give initial treatment;
4) Provide necessary advice relating to the supervision of conditions at work which may
influence health and general cleanliness; and
5) Undertake health education.

Result of Health Care Services

1) Reduce absenteeism and absence-related costs and encourage people back to work sooner,
2) Prevent work-related ill health,
3) Facilitate early return to work,
4) Achieve significant cost savings,

4.10 Industrial Hygienists

According to American Board of Industrial Hygiene (AIHA), "An industrial hygienist is a person
having a college or university degree(s) in engineering, chemistry, physics, medicine, or related
physical and biological sciences, which has also received specialized training in recognition,
evaluation, and control of workplace stressors and therefore achieved competence in industrial
hygiene".

Responsibilities/Duties of Industrial Hygienists

a. Industrial hygienists evaluate health hazards in the work environment and make
recommendations in an effort to keep employees safe from any potential health hazard.
b. They use their specialized training to anticipate, evaluate, and control any health hazard that
may exist in industry, government organizations, the community, or the environment.
c. They often review reports and conduct research to determine if diseases or illnesses are work-
related.
d. Industrial hygienists are also responsible for conducting educational and training seminars that
inform employees about occupational health and the Prevention of workplace accidents.

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4.11 Importance of Industrial Heal Hygiene

Industrial health and hygiene is very important for every industry, such as:
a. Employer: From employer's point of view, if there is good health of employees in the
organization then it would lead to good productivity of employees.
b. Employee: From employee's point of view, safe work environment and good health will
provide job satisfaction and this Will help them to hold in the same organization.
c. Organization: From organization's point of view, good health and hygiene conditions will
result to less absenteeism and less employees' turnover which will" enhance organization's
goodwill.

4.12 Problems of Industrial Health and Hygiene

a. Employer: From employer's point of view, the major problem which they face after
providing health and hygiene facility to their employees is cost.
b. Employee: From employees' point of view, the major problem is that they lack regularity, if
certain facilities of health and cleanliness are provided to them; they pay less attention towards it.
c. Organization: From organizations point of view, the major problem regarding industrial
health and hygiene is to create safe and tidy environment for employees so that they feel good
and satisfied.

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5. COUNSELING
5.1 Meaning and Definition of Counseling
“Counseling is a process in which the counselor assists the counselee to make interpretations of
facts relating to a choice, plan or adjustments which he needs to make”.

5.2 Characteristics of Counseling

Following are major characteristics of Counseling
1) Counseling is a person to person relationship
2) The objective is to help the counselor to find out and solve his personal problems
independently
3) In order to help and assist properly the counselor must establish a relationship of mutual
respect, cooperation and friendliness between the two individuals
4) In the whole of counseling process the main importance is on the counselor’s self direction
and self-acceptance.

5.3 Objectives or Goals of Counseling

a. Improving Awareness: The objectives of counseling are to facilitate awareness. This is
achieved by keeping the focus on the client, acknowledging the feelings, experience, a behavior.
b. Improving personal effectiveness: - Another goal of counseling is that of improving personal
effectiveness. This is closely related to the preservation of good mental health and securing
desirable behavioral changes.
c. Decision-Making: Counseling enables the counselee to make decisions. It is through the
process of making critical decisions that personal growth is encouraged.
d. Modification of Behavior: Behaviorally-oriented counselors stress the need for modification
of behavior, for example, removal of undesirable behavior or action or reduction of an irritating
symptom such that the individual attains satisfaction and effectiveness.

5.4 Participants in Counseling

i) Client: The client is a person who needs counseling service. He is the all-important person in
counseling. Each client is a unique individual with particular characteristics and ways of dealing
with the world.
ii) Counselor: The counselor is a professionally trained person who seeks to improve the client's
performance via continued education and self-awareness.
iii) Relative Participants: Relative participants can be the family members of the client, the
immediate supervisor at work, HR manager, or even the leaders of employee unions of which the
client is a member.

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5.5 Steps/Phases of Counseling Process

Phase I: Developing the Relationship
(During this initial stage the counselor manager must create an appropriate atmosphere, and try
to establish a special rapport with subordinates in the organization)
--- Respect: Respect for subordinates by the managers is necessary for them to feel confident,
and gain the strength to move forward.
--- Genuineness: Genuineness means being real (being yourself) and not putting on a fake
professional frontage. It also means being open and showing a real interest in the person.
--- Empathy: It is caring about people and understanding them without taking their \ agreeing
with them completely. Communicating empathy entails showing that the counselor has heard,
understood and accepted what the other person has communicated
--- Equality: An equal relationship is necessary for the process to work. A counseling session is
a meeting between equal individuals instead of a meeting between a superior manager and an
inferior subordinate
--- Listening: The counselor should establish in the beginning that he or she is there to listen to
their subordinates. The kind of listening he or she will be doing is hard work, and involves much
more. It has been referred to as active listening.

Phase 2: Defining the Problem(s):- It is important to show that the counselor understands the
problem clearly from subordinate’s point of view before challenging them to look at the problem
more objectively.

--- Examining the problem: - The counselor should seek to define and understand the problem
clearly from the subordinate’s
--- Prioritizing the Relevant Issues: The counselor may need to encourage the person to talk
about the most significant concerns, i.e., the ones having deep influence on their lives.
--- Focusing on the Perspective: The subordinate will view the problem situation, before they
can move-on to finding productive ways of managing the problem.
--- Acceptance of the Problem: The subordinates need to come to the point of accepting that the
problem. There is no point in using counseling skills with someone to help them to solve a
problem, which they do not understand to be a problem.
--- Emphasizing on Self-Responsibility: After acceptance of the problem's, the next step for the
counselor is to make the client realize that it is his or her own problem and not someone else's.
--- Analyzing and Solving Problems: For providing effective counseling, the problem of the
subordinate or the client should be analyzed minutely, and then corrective steps should be taken
to make them understand why the problem occurred and how it needs to be tackled.

Phase 3: Determining Goal(s)

During this phase, the subordinates or the clients will establish their goals.

--- Choosing and Prioritizing Goals and Objectives: Now, the subordinates or the clients have
to finally choose and prioritize their goals.

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--- Making Commitment: The subordinate or the client must be committed to the goals;
otherwise, they are unlikely to carry-out the plans decided-on.

Phase 4: Deciding the Plan of Action

--- Generating and Exploring Alternatives: The subordinates or clients may need
encouragement or even help in exploring the range of options open to them. The manager or the
counselor might even need to remind them about the other options available.
--- Decision-Making: Different methods for arriving at the decisions can be used with the help
of decision –making skills.
--- Specific Steps: Once a decision has been made regarding the choice of option then the
strategy to be follow need to broken down into specific steps

Phase 5: Doing the follow up

Which is easiest to overlook is making sure that the action plan is implemented.
--- All talk and no action: - Several Precautions can be taken in order to facilitate action and to
avoid the ‘all talk no action’ condition.
--- Emotional Block: - The manager or the counselor may be attracted to encourage the
subordinate or client to take actions by pushing them. The manager or the counselor can use the
counseling process to help them to recognize and overcome these blocks.

5.6 Types of counseling

a. Directive counseling :- Directive counseling is the process of hearing a person’s
emotional problems, deciding what he should do, and then telling and motivating him to
do it
b. Non-directive counseling :- Non – directive counseling is the process of skillfully
listening to a person and encouraging him to explain his emotional problems, understand
them and determine course of action
c. Cooperative or participative counseling :- Cooperative counseling is a close and
mental relationship between the counselor and the counselee that establishes a co-
operative exchange of ideas, information, knowledge, values, feeling etc., to solve the
problem of the counselee

5.7 Functions of counseling

 Advice: - The counselor after carefully listening to the problem of counselee makes
judgments about the counselee’s problems and guides him towards desired courses of
action.
 Clarified Thinking: - Clarified thinking encourages a person to accept responsibility and
be more realistic in solving the emotional problems, which occur in between.
 Release of emotional tension: - when people share their emotional problems with
someone, they get emotional release from their tensions. This emotional release may not
solve the problem but paves way for solution

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 Communication: - Counseling facilitates in improving upward and downward

communication process, the feelings and emotional problems of employees can be
interpreted to management. It also helps in achieving downward communication as the
counselors interpret company activities and give work insight to employees.
 Re-orientation:- It involves a change in the employee’s basic self, through a change in
basic goals & values. It facilitates people in recognizing and accepting their strengths,
weaknesses and limitations.

5.8 Counseling Intervention

It may be useful, to identify the range of counseling interventions that may be used in any
counseling situation
 Authoritative:- In this counselor play a directive role
a. Prescriptive Interventions :- Prescriptive interventions are those in which the
counselor’s intention is to suggest or recommend a particular line of action
b. Informative interventions :- Informative interventions are those in which the
counselor informs the person in some way
c. Confronting interventions:- Interventions of this sort are those that challenge clients
in some way or draw their attention to a particular type of repetitive behavior

 Facilitative :- In this counselor play’s less directive role

a. Cathartic intervention: - These are interventions that enable the person to release
tension through the expression of unexpressed emotion.
b. Catalytic Interventions: - Catalytic interventions are those that draw the client out
and encourage him to discuss issues further. Thus, any sorts of questions are
examples of catalytic interventions.
c. Supportive Interventions: - These are interventions that support, encourage the
client in some way. Thus, when the counselor tells the client, I appreciate what you
are doing’, she is offering a supportive intervention.

5.9 Psychological Counseling

Psychological Counseling aims to help to people manage their difficulties and transform personal
problems into their own personal growth.

Psychological counseling helps in:

 Deal with stress and other pressures
 Resolve fears
 Cope with continuing family problems
 Work through difficult decisions
 Breakthrough depression
 Breakthrough sadness

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Effects (Results) of Psychological counseling

 Person can develop more relationship

 Person can bring out creativity and self-expression
 Person can feel happier within himself

Relationship between counseling psychology and clinical psychology

Clinical psychologies usually take care of patients who suffer from difficult. Alternatively, a
counseling psychologist handles patient with less difficulty such as daily stress with education,
family issues etc.

Role of counseling psychology

The major role is the practical application of psychology ethics and rules to help a person to
transform, improve, and adjust his situation in a better manner

Situation that call for counseling in an organization

 When an employee frequently Late or absent
 When an employee’s productivity is down
 When one employee behave in such a way that productivity of others is negatively affected
 When two employees have a conflict that is becoming public and it is affecting the work

Counseling Skills
 Listen carefully
 Demonstrate empathy
 Do not make judgments’
 Understand emotions/feelings
 Question with care
 Ask open ended question
 Use appropriate body language
 Do not show superiority

Benefits of counseling

 Helps the person being counseled to understand himself

 Allows the individual to help himself
 Facilitates to look at the situations more objectively
 Develops positive outlook
 Motivates to search for alternate solutions to problems
 Helps in superior decision- making
 Prepares the person to cope with the situation

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Limitations in counseling

 Person being counseled may not have trust in his counselor

 Lack of skills of the counselor

5.10 Work place counseling

The latest trend catching up in the corporate HR across the world is ‘Employee Counseling at
workplace’. In the world of ever increasing difficulty and the stress in the lives, especially the
workplaces of the employees and also to increase the quality of the workforce.

5.11 Issues considered for industrial counseling

1. General Issues
a. Disturbance in family relationship
b. Dissatisfaction with present job or salary
c. Diseases, illness
d. Disability in measuring up to company requirements
e. Disturbance in general personality

2. Legal Issues

a. Employment discrimination
b. Employment at will
c. Employment contracts
d. Documentation
e. Investigation and searches

Unit – 4, Industrial Safety (Prepared by S.Jeevithaa, Assistant Professor- KVIMIS)