Question

What effect has the Occupational Health and Safety Act had on environmental and workplace health?

Answer 1

The Occupation Safety and Health Act was enacted in the year 1970 with an aim to provide a hazard free workplace for the employees.The Act was effective from April 28,1971.Here hazards refer to toxic chemicals, unbearable noise,mechanical dangers,stress from heat and cold and unsanitary conditions.This hazards lead to many industry related dreadful diseases like pnemoconiosis,lead poisoning in the labourers.In the 1960s,protests started from the labours side regarding the hazards and finally led to enactment of the Act in 1970.

As per the act,the employers need to follow the followings :-

1) To maintain conditions which are necessary and appropriate to protect the workers on the job.

2) To be familiar and comply with standards which are applicable to their establishments.

3)To ensure that employees are provided with Personal Protective Equipment when required for safety and health.

There are 4 criterias when the employers have to follow the above guidelines:- a) There must be a hazard. b)The hazard must be a recognised one. c)The hazard can cause serious harm to health or death. d)The hazard must be correctable.

Under this Act,employees are asked to inform the concerned authority within 8 hours if a person dies or 3 or more persons admitted to hospital from incident which is work-related.Rules to avoid discrimination are also present in the act.

So,the Act provides a safer environment and workplace for the employees to work on.Thus it also reduces environmental pollution by reducing the production of hazardous chemicals.