Occupational health care and safety in industrial establishments-status and strategies in India

Ever since independence, concern for health has been of major and priority importance in Indian planning. National health policy has affirmed the aim of effective health care for all by the year 2000. Keeping this in view, the government of India has enacted a number of legislations on safety and occupational health in industry. Here, the authors focus on the development and present status and problems of occupational health and the design of appropriate strategies for better occupational health care and safety. To face the challenge of a liberalized market, more sophisticated technology and competition, industries need not only people with skill, ability, and knowledge, but also sound health and mind. Different health and safety measures have been strengthened following a big disaster in Bhopal in 1984. A number of large scale technology intensive industries have adapted a number of health and safety measures for their employees. But this receives very little attention in small and medium sector units where a large proportion of people are employed. There are also other problems both at the national and industry levels for making a sound safety and occupational health program successful in a developing country like India. While probing into these problems a few strategies have been formulated for a sound safety and occupational health service.