Latest news with #OccupationalSafety
Roya News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Roya News
Jordan bans outdoor agricultural work during peak heat hours
Jordan's Minister of Labor, Khaled Al-Bakkar, has decided to prohibit agricultural workers and those whose jobs require exposure to direct sunlight from working between 12 PM and 4 PM during the ongoing heatwave. According to Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Al-Zayoud, the ban applies from Monday, August 11, 2025, through Thursday, August 14, 2025, coinciding with the heatwave announced by the Meteorological Department. The decision is based on the authorities granted by the Agricultural Workers Law of 2021 and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Hazard Prevention Law of 2023. Al-Zayoud emphasized that employers must adhere to measures organizing working hours to protect workers from direct sun exposure during the specified days.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Empowering India's Corporate Workforce: Effective Safety Training For A Safe + Sound Workplace
Corporate India runs on ambition-tight project timelines, strategic brainstorming, and agile online stand-up calls scheduled throughout the work week. But amid the hustle, one silent pillar often gets overlooked: workplace safety. And no, it's not just about hard hats or safety signs. True safety encompasses ergonomic health, mental health, emergency preparedness, and a culture that treats safety not as an event but a habit. That's where effective safety training becomes essential. And that's where The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code of 2020 (known as the OSH Code in short) by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, come in. Every year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the USA celebrates Safe + Sound Week to highlight workplace safety issues. This year, the week falls between 11-17 August, 2025, and it is the perfect occasion to get you better acquainted with India's own OSH Code. Whether you're a finance analyst pulling long hours or a facilities head managing emergency protocols, structured, well-targeted safety training is a shared investment in well-being. Studies show that consistent training lowers incident rates, improves morale, and enhances productivity across all levels of corporate operations. Let's uncover the legal and practical landscape of safety training in India, how global frameworks can be tailored for Indian offices, and how companies can make training not just another meeting-but a vital part of everyday work culture. The Current Landscape Of Workplace Safety In Indian Corporate Offices Safety Still Seen As An Afterthought: In many Indian corporate offices, safety remains reactive. Fire drills happen rarely, electrical hazards are noticed only after incidents, and ergonomic awareness often stops at an uncomfortable chair. Despite an increasing number of young professionals facing lifestyle-related injuries and mental health challenges, safety training is often confined to compliance paperwork. Legal Framework Still Evolving: India's move to consolidate labour laws under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020 was a landmark step, aimed at covering all workplaces and not just factories. However, many provisions are yet to be fully enforced across states. Meanwhile, the Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) has continued to publish training advisories under existing acts like the Factories Act, 1948. Until full implementation, Indian companies must act proactively, using these guidelines and global standards to self-regulate and upgrade safety training internally. Mental Health And Ergonomics Are Ignored: Stress, burnout, and poor posture are silent yet serious threats in modern offices. According to a 2023 LinkedIn India survey, over 80% of Indian professionals reported burnout, while tech workers frequently report Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) due to prolonged screen time. Safety training that doesn't include these factors leaves a major gap in workforce health. Effective Safety Training: A Deep Dive Effective safety training isn't about checking regulatory boxes-it's about building a resilient, informed, and confident workforce. Below is a breakdown of what comprehensive, modern, and relevant safety training should look like for Indian corporate environments. Foundation: The 3 Pillars Of Effective Safety Training Leadership Commitment: Training initiatives must start at the top. Leaders must allocate budget, participate in sessions, and speak openly about safety. When employees see leaders involved, training gets taken seriously. Assign a Chief Safety Officer (CSO) or designate safety champions across departments. A great way to action this is to include safety as a regular agenda item in management reviews or town halls. Worker Participation: Involve employees in shaping training programs. Different roles have different risks-IT staff might need eye-strain and sitting posture training, while admin teams need to know emergency exits and electrical shut-off points. Interactive formats like polls, feedback forms, safety suggestion boxes, and team-based activities can turn passive training into an engaging conversation. Hazard Identification & Fixes: Encourage a "Find and Fix" culture: allow anonymous reporting of hazards, follow through with fixes, and highlight resolved issues in internal newsletters or stand-up meetings. Use simple tools like: Safety walkthrough checklists Monthly "Hazard Hunt" challenges QR-coded incident reporting tools Continuous Improvement Training shouldn't be a one-time induction module. Incorporate the following for best results: Quarterly refresher sessions that focus on small but comprehensive sessions Annual assessments with certifications Post-incident debrief training Workplace Safety Training Content Structure: Local, Practical, Specific Generic slides on "fire safety" pasted across your workplace or sent as mails occasionally aren't enough. Build contextual, scenario-based and shareable content using real office layouts, actual tools, and regional languages when possible. You could easily try the following types of trainings: Induction Training: Basics of workplace safety, evacuation paths, reporting lines need to be provided to every new joinee or those returning to the workplace after a break, say women coming back from maternity leaves or remote workers. Job-Specific Modules: Tailored sessions for various corporate roles, like screen health training for IT, fire panel safety trainings for Admin, can provide more engaging modules on safety. Emergency Preparedness: Drills for fire, earthquake, electrical outages are essential, and must be conducted every month, especially if your workplace is located in zones where these hazards lead to safety issues frequently. Ergonomics & Mental Health: Teaching safe screen habits is essential in this day and age, but so is reiterating the importance of work breaks. You could also engage teams in peer support and stress signal trainings. These would be team building as well as safety trainings at the same time. Refresher Micro-Sessions: Short, engaging content around safety measures targeting every module mentioned above can be effective. These safety training visuals can be shared over emails, posters or even internal organisational platforms. Safety Training Frequency: How Often Is Enough? To be fair, today's corporate hustle culture barely allows organisations enough time to engage in too many workplace safety trainings. However, taking the time out to do these is essential. Here are some possible ideas on when to schedule safety trainings as per a general corporate calendar: Induction Training: Onboarding Day Emergency Drills: Quarterly Refresher Courses: Quarterly Annual Certification: Yearly Special Safety Days: Bi-Annually As anyone who has ever tried the difference between theory and practice may know, it is one thing to organise and execute safety training sessions in a corporate environment and quite another to learn from them for future reference and implementable changes. To overcome this obstacle, the team organising these safety drills need to maintain the following records meticulously: Attendance logs Assessment scores Drill reports Incident response protocols Certificates issued These not only help in audit preparedness but also demonstrate due diligence in case of legal scrutiny. Why Safety Training Pays Off: Tangible Benefits There are many benefits of organising safety trainings in the workplace. Here are a few you should know about. Fewer Injuries, Lower Costs: Companies with strong safety programs see 30-50% fewer injuries, per OSHA estimates. Boosted Morale: Employees feel valued and respected when safety is prioritized. Improved Productivity: Healthier teams are more focused, less fatigued. Reputation Shield: A safety-conscious brand attracts both clients and top talent. Legal Compliance: Reduces risk of penalties under OSH Code audits or during on-site inspections. For Employees: Your Role In Corporate Office Safety While your employers or an organisation are legally bound to provide workplace safety by following OSHA guidelines, as an employee, it is vital for you too to take charge and follow the following safety steps: Report Early: See something unsafe? Report it immediately for your own wellbeing as well as that of everyone else at the workplace. Know Your Exits: Don't treat drills as optional because practice could save your life. In any case, taking the stairs regularly has plenty of benefits as well (weight loss and fitness included), so try those exits. Take Micro-Breaks: You might think taking a small break can interrupt your workflow, but regular breaks to stretch, hydrate and reset are crucial for your physical and mental health. Remember, small habits prevent big issues. Check Ergonomics: Use screen risers, adjust your chair, avoid hunching. Support Your Team: Encourage safety among peers because reminders go a long way. Build A Culture, Not Just A Checklist Workplace safety isn't a policy, it's a culture. By embedding meaningful training, involving every employee, and adapting global best practices for Indian offices, we can build workplaces that are not only productive but also deeply humane. As India's knowledge economy grows, so must its safety IQ. From ergonomic chairs to emergency exits, from leadership advocacy to employee engagement, it's time we make safety training central to the corporate DNA. So whether you're a team lead, HR head, or a new joiner, take safety seriously. Because it's not just about avoiding accidents. It's about ensuring that everyone goes home healthier than they arrived. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
Amusement ride that injured three at Kuching Festival was never cleared for use, DOSH confirms
KUCHING, Aug 7 — The faulty tagada amusement ride, which injured three Kuching Festival visitors on August 2, did not have a valid certificate of fitness (CF) nor was it registered with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). DOSH Sarawak said the Ferris wheel at the site also requires a CF under the Guidelines on the Safety Management of Amusement Park Devices (2008). 'The department denies any claims that either of these amusement rides had been inspected by its officers. 'To date, no application has been received from the amusement park operator to operate these rides,' it said in a statement. DOSH pointed out failure to register the rides constitutes an offence under the Occupational Safety and Health (Machinery Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024. Three prohibition notices have also been issued to the employer involved. 'The case is being investigated under Section 17 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514). 'Legal action will be taken against those found responsible for any violations of the Act. 'Under this legislation, the maximum penalty for employers found guilty is RM500,000,' said the department. DOSH Sarawak also called on all amusement park operators and event organisers to ensure that all theme park machinery is installed securely, maintained properly, and complies with established safety standards to safeguard public health and safety. Around 9.40pm on Aug 2, three individuals sustained minor injuries after a tagada amusement ride collapsed at the Kuching Festival site near Dewan Masyarakat MBKS. Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said all three victims were treated on-site by Malaysian Red Crescent first aiders. Following the incident, MBKS instructed the contractor to shut down the entire fun ride area and called on DOSH to conduct a safety inspection of the rides. — The Borneo Post
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Forbes
OSHA Seeks To Disclaim Authority Over Sports And Entertainment Workers
Photo byThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the United States Department of Labor, is tasked with enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), a 1970 law meant to improve the health and safety of American workers and their workplaces. The law's application to the inherently dangerous occupation of professional sports has been unclear. However, OSHA has taken legal action in the entertainment world, including an effort that ended SeaWorld shows in which trainers went into the water with orcas, over the dissent of now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Relying on Kavanaugh's dissent, OSHA has filed a proposed rule in which it now says it has no authority over 'known hazards that are inherent and inseparable from the core nature of a professional activity or performance.' Free Willy's Trainers Among other regulatory dictates, the OSH Act requires employers to provide their 'employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.' This requirement is known as the General Duty Clause. To establish a violation of the General Duty Clause, OSHA must establish that: (1) an activity or condition in the employer's workplace presented a hazard to an employee; (2) either the employer or the industry recognized the condition or activity as a hazard; (3) the hazard was likely to cause, or actually caused, death or serious physical harm; and (4) a feasible means to eliminate or materially reduce the hazard existed. In 2010, after the orca Tilikum caused the death of a SeaWorld trainer, OSHA cited SeaWorld for violations of the General Duty Clause. Following an evidentiary hearing, an administrative law judge found in OSHA's favor. That decision was upheld in 2014 by a split decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The majority held that eliminating 'waterwork' (trainers swimming with the whales) was a practical method of abating the known risks to the trainers without materially affecting SeaWorld's business. The case included a notable dissent from then-Judge Kavanaugh. In Kavanaugh's view: 'In the sports and entertainment fields, the activity itself frequently carries some risk that cannot be eliminated without fundamentally altering the nature of the activity as defined within the industry. Tackling is part of football, speeding is part of stock car racing, playing with dangerous animals is part of zoo and animal shows, and punching is part of boxing, as those industries define themselves.' Consequently, Kavanaugh argued, OSHA was without the authority to 'completely forbid an industry from offering its product' and stated further that 'in sports events and entertainment shows, there is no distinction between the product being offered and its production: the product is the production.' OSHA On The Sidelines OSHA has jurisdiction over almost all private sector employees in the United States, which would also include players in the major American professional sports leagues. However, despite the obvious and extensive injury risks associated with playing professional sports, OSHA has never taken any action in that arena. In fact, in the few instances in which OSHA has received inquiries concerning its regulatory authority over NFL players, it has declined to engage. In response to letters from an insurance company and fans, OSHA has implausibly stated that NFL players are independent contractors, and not employees, and therefore not within its jurisdiction. Additionally, in a 2008 letter, OSHA stated that it had 'no specific standards that address protection for professional athletes participating in athletic competitions,' and that '[i]n most cases . . . OSHA does not take enforcement action with regard to professional athletes.' Indeed, even amid and after the concussion crises and litigation concerning the NFL in the 2010s, OSHA did not seek to get involved. In a 2018 law review article, my co-authors and I examined at length OSHA's authority over the NFL workplace and the political and practical reasons for its non-involvement. Notably, it is difficult to assess how OSHA could regulate the NFL workplace, i.e., which activities (e.g., tackles, hits) it could ban or restrict, without fundamentally changing the nature of the game. Ultimately, given that NFL players are represented by a powerful union that has collectively bargained extensive health and safety provisions into the collective bargaining agreement with the league, OSHA's involvement was always highly questionable (though the use of Guardian Caps in the NFL is generally consistent with the General Duty Clause). OSHA Quits The Game On July 1, 2025, OSHA filed a proposed rule through which it seeks to interpret the General Duty Clause as excluding from its jurisdiction 'known hazards that are inherent and inseparable from the core nature of a professional activity or performance.' More specifically, OSHA says it cannot 'prohibit, restrict, or penalize inherently risky activities that are intrinsic to professional, athletic, or entertainment occupations.' In crafting the proposed rule, OSHA quoted extensively from Justice Kavanaugh's dissent in the SeaWorld case, though it did not analyze how its proposed rule would apply in practice. OSHA also claims that its regulation of the sports and entertainment industries invokes the major questions doctrine, through which, according to OSHA, regulatory agencies are not to act on questions of 'vast economic and political significance without a clear congressional mandate.' In OSHA's view, there is no indication that the General Duty Clause was intended by Congress to 'prohibit the core design of performances or sports.' OSHA concluded that its new rule would affect individuals classified as professional athletes, actors, dancers, musicians and singers, and other entertainers and performers. In total, there are an estimated 115,620 people employed in these roles. Confusingly, OSHA estimates that the rule will only affect 1% of these employees, or about 1,100 people. This estimate is hard to square with the fact that in any given year, there are about 2,000 players in the NFL, 1,000 players in MLB, 750 players in the NHL, and 500 players in the NBA. OSHA further estimates that 514 employers would be affected by the rule but did not explicitly reference or discuss any such employers. OSHA then estimated, without any explanation, that the rule would save each employer an average of $1,000 annually, resulting in a total estimated cost savings of $514,000. While professional sports have not faced OSHA action, entertainment productions – such as the Ringling Brothers circus and the Broadway production of Spider-Man – occasionally have. Consequently, OSHA's estimated cost savings seem to have at least some basis. Commentators At The Bat The public has until August 30, 2025 to submit comments on OSHA's proposed rule before OSHA can issue a final, binding rule. OSHA has specifically asked the public to weigh in on how many employees and employers would be affected by the rule and its potential benefits and costs. The NFLPA and MLBPA declined to comment about whether they intend to submit comments to OSHA. Given that OSHA has not previously involved itself in professional sports, the more likely commentary would come from employees and their unions in the entertainment world.
The Print
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Mumbai, Kolkata among worst hit by trade unions' Bharat Bandh. What are their demands
The strike especially hit places like Mumbai, Kolkata, Odisha and Bihar, where public‑sector bank branches were shuttered, their staff shouting slogans against privatisation. New Delhi: At least 10 Central Trade Unions across India organised a 24-hour nationwide general strike on July 9, in protest against the central government's alleged anti-labour policies. The 'Bharat Bandh' disrupted key services, including banking, mining, electricity and more, trade union members said. In Kolkata, rail lines were blocked, with dramatic photos showing police removing barricades on roads and even extinguishing small fires lit by protesters. In Odisha, Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) members blocked highways, while in Kerala, shuttered shops and silent streets bore testimony to a near-total shutdown. Despite the strike's scope, a few essential services including hospitals, fire departments, police, and grocery shops were functioning, and many private offices and schools stayed open. The pictures from different protests across states showed volatile moments including scenes of bus drivers wearing helmets in Kolkata and North Bengal for safety; scuffles in West Bengal involving TMC members, and aggressive police lathi‑charges. The trade unions have been alleging that the central government is implementing economic reforms that undermine workers' rights. The 10 unions have been demanding that the government focus on a 17-point charter submitted last year to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, containing urgent demands ranging from scrapping labour reforms to halting privatisation. The trade unions backing the protest include prominent organisations including the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), and the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC). Also read: Naidu govt approves 10-hr workdays, night shifts for women in bid to attract more industry, investment Protesting against codes passed in 2020 The trade unions participating in the Bharat Bandh have opposed the Labour Codes passed by the government in 2020. These laws include, Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (OSH Code), and Code on Social Security. As per the trade unions, these laws favour the employers and make it easier for them to hire and fire workers, restrict their right to strike by requiring prior permissions, weaken the role of trade unions, and reduce the coverage of key benefits like provident fund, gratuity, and health insurance for contract and gig workers. 'These laws will ruin the workers' rights, including the freedom to make unions, eight-hour work shifts and protesting against employers. We want the laws to be taken back,' Amit Chakraborty, an activist working with the Centre for Struggling Trade Unions (CSTU) told ThePrint. He added that the unions are currently demanding a minimum wage of Rs 26,000 in all sectors, stopping of privatisation of workforce immediately, and fulfilment of gig workers' demands. 'The situation is so bad that protesting while working in private sectors causes job losses immediately. People get fired, which is why many workers could not show up. Yet the response was good today,' he said. Tapan Sen, the president of CITU told ThePrint that at least 500 districts across the country observed the strike. This included rail and road blockades, and resulted in police confrontations and arrests, he said. '95 percent coal mines were shut, 100 percent iron mines and 100 percent manganese ore mines were shut. Moreover, industries across Bangalore, Mysore and Chennai were closed. Also, the cement sector observed the strike,' he told ThePrint, adding that public sectors including banks, insurance companies across the country were completely shut. 'Over 25 crore workers have gone on strike. This includes workers across different places like West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Karnataka and more,' he said. Similarly, Sourya Majumder, who is associated with a student-youth movement, said that unemployment is at a 'historic high' in India right now. He said that the four labour codes 'threaten' the future of India's youth, promising more insecure employment in the form of contractual work in jobs of a permanent nature. 'We have recently seen struggles of jobless youth across the country and the general strike called by the Central Trade Unions today is an important step for the working class to organise against this assault by the RSS-BJP regime on behalf of major multinational corporations,' he said. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Even as Centre dithers on notifying labour codes, most states amend labour laws to attract investments
