Human Resource Managementore a 1.Introduction 9. Importance of welfare 2.Need for health 10. Agencies for welfare work 3.Legal provisions regarding 11. Types of welfare facilities employee health 12. Statutory provisions 4.Safety 13. Social security 5. Types of injuries and accident 14. Social security in India 6. Legal proviosions regarding 15.Case study safety 7. Effective safety management 8.Employee welfareIntroduction To deliver satisfactory results, employees need a safe and healthy workplace. Unsafe and filthy work spots affect the mental as well as physical well being of workers. By creating a healthy work environment, employers can easily avoid the costs relating to sick leave, disability payments, replacement of injured could be avoided.eis 9 1.Improve productivity and quality of work. 2.Reduce accidents, injuries, absenteeism and labour turnover. 3.Promote and maintain the highest degree of physical, social, and mental well being of workers. 4. protect workers against any health hazard arising out of work or conditions in which it is carried on.2 Industrial accidents ofvarious kinds happen in India with frustrating regularity. The worst part is that the worker is almost always pushed to a corner, when it comes to receiving compensation. In fact, the life of a worker is not so precious in India. The Small and Medium Enterprises put aside the legal provisions completely citing one reason or the other. Even in large enterprises there is barely any enforcement of the legal ions. Frequently, employers literally get away with murder. Serious accidents resulting in death and injury are routinely dealt with by the government and employers by providing measly monetary compensation to the victims’ families. Employers continue to push workers to the limits. Women and children continue to work near dangerous machines. There is very little commitment, as things stand now, to safety related issues almost everywhere.Steuer a ever Onecare] 7 Ei anole Ure) Equipment hazard accidents > ie R ICRC UTS year _—- yn hazardWork on or ne: machinery in motion (22) Employment of women,childern rear cotton openers. en Casing of new machinery (26) Floors, stairs and means of access (32) Dangerous fumes Precaution with and gases (36) regard to portable lectrical tight (36A) Safety officers (408) Striking gear and devices for cutting off power (24) Employment of young persons (23) Lifting machines, Hoists and tfts (28) J} chains and ropes (29) Revolving machinery Pits, sumps,openings in floors (33) Expioee ol Precaution Safety of building of fire (38) and machinery (40) inflammable gas or dust (37)Effective safety management Safety policy Every factory must formulate and implement a safety policy. The objective of such a policy should be to eliminate or reduce accidents and injuries in the workplace. Top management support Safety commitment should begin with top management. The commitment manifests itself in top managements’ being personally involved in safety activities in a routine way, giving safety matters top priority in company meetings and production scheduling, giving company safety officer high rank and status and including safety training in new workers’ training Safety committee To promote safety consciousness among employees, safety committees could be constituted, under the chairmanship of a safety officer. The committee should consist of representatives from workers and supervisors from various departments and levels.Effective safety management Safety engineering To minimize workplace accidents, proper engineering. procedures could be followed. Fencing of machinery, adequate space between machines, parts and equipment, use of material handling equipment, safety devices, proper maintenance of machines, etc., are undertaken to prevent accidents from occurring. Safety training and communications Safety training can also reduce accidents. It is especially useful in case of new recruits. Training in safe practices, procedures, material handling, first aid, fire prevention etc., could be offered to them. Posters, newsletters, displays, slogans and signs could also be used to promote safety consciousness throughout the organization. Another way to communicate safety ideas is through safety films and videotapes. Evaluation of safety efforts Organizations should monitor and evaluate safety efforts by conducting safety audits at intervals.Employee welfare Employee or labour welfare is a comprehensive term that includes various services, benefits and facilities offered to employees by the employer. Through such gener- ous fringe benefits, the employer helps improve the life of employees. The welfare amenities are extended in addition to normal wages and other economic rewards available to employees as per the legal provisions. The basic purpose of labour wel- fare is to enrich the life of employees and keep them happy and contented. Welfare measures may be both statutory and voluntary. Labour laws require the employer to extend certain benefits to employees in addition to wages. Voluntary benefits are the result of employer's generosity, enlightenment and philanthropic feelings.enloyes are Importance of conmitet wronforce employee Standard ea) cu:Agencies for welfare workStatutory Provisions Washing facilities for male and female workers separately Recreational facilities for workers and their children Facilities for storing and drying clothes Educational arrangements in the estate if there are 25 or more children of workers, between the age of 6 and 12 Facilities for occasional rest for workers who work ina standing position for long hours Housing facilities for every worker and his family residing in the estate Canteens where there are more than 250 workers Medical aid to workers and their families; sickness and ‘maternity allowance First-aid boxes or cupboards - one for every 150 workers and ambulance facility if there are more than 500 workers Créche if $0 or more women workers are employedStatutory Provisions First aid boxes and first-aid rooms if 150 or more workers are ‘employed ‘Medical facilities at the operating and halting centres A canteen if employing 250 or more workers Canteen if employing 100 or more workers Shelters for taking food and rest if 50 or more workers are employed A créche if employing 50 or more females. First aid equipment in each transport vehicle Comfortable, clean, ventilated and well-lighted rest rooms at every place where motor transport workers are required to halt at night. Pit-head baths equipped with showers, sanitary latrines. Uniforms, raincoats to conductors, drivers, and line checking staff for protection against cold and rain, Welfare officer if 500 or more workers are employed. Prescribed amount of washing allowance to the above staff members.Statutory Provisions Canteen, if employing 100 or more workers. Rest rooms or other suitable alternative accommodation where contract labour is required to halt at night in connection with the work of an establishment. Washing facilities.Social Security 8 Social security is the protection given by society to its members against contingencies of modern life such as sickness, unemployment, old age, invalidity and industrial accidents. The basic purpose of social security is to protect people of small means from risks which impair a person's ability to support himself and his family. The security measures are generally specified by law. They offer some kind of cash payment to individuals to replace at least a part of lost income that occurs due to mishaps such as sickness, injuries, death, etc. During periods of economic and physical distress, the poor workers can at least survive on compensatory payments offered by the state or employers. Social security is an attack on five giants that affect workers - wants, disease, ignorance, squalor and idleness. It is not a burden but a kind of wise investment that offers good social dividends in the long run.Types of Social Security Benefits = = | --"""° Social security benefits are provided in two major ways in India: @ Social insurance: In this scheme, a common fund is established with periodical contributions from workers, out of which all benefits in cash or kind are paid. The contribution of the workers is nominal and generally does not exceed their paying capacity. The employees and the State provide the major portion of the finances. The primary purpose of the fund is to provide for a minimum standard of living to the beneficiaries during the period of partialor total loss of income. Benefits such as provident fund and group insurance are offered on the basis of the contribution record of the beneficiary. @ Social assistance: In this case, benefits are offered to persons of small means by the government out of its general revenues. It is the State which takes the lead in offering certain benefits to the iblic. Workers and employers do not contribute to such benefits in any manner. Benefits such as age pension are granted as a matter of right; they are provided free of cost, provided certain ions are satisfied.Social Yel a tava India ye See ee angry Taegan eee) Pea eee) eee ara Pee acy Peed Ce ee a Perea ee eae eae ate a of India has more or le Sen) ard rE eens Feeney Pees ere Cee etnod ear Pte eee ge ta aC ees Commonly provi benefits in India | vesaiere | acai Sickness benefit Accident benefit in cash Old age pension or TM survivor's benefit Invalidity pensionwbacks of Social Security system in India ¢ Cover only workers in organized sector. © Does not offer unemployment insurance. © Several schemes have in-built weakness; as a result, the beneficiaries are put to lot of trouble and inconvenience. ¢ Lack of funds, facilities, trained staff to implement the schemes. © There is considerable overlapping of schemes. ¢ Most measures are in the nature of social assistance and not social insurance. ° Mostly, employers have to make contributions.