REGULATIONS CONCERNING SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS IN INDUSTRIAL LABORATORIES

The workers in industry engaged in using or producing chemicals, coal, high temperature, intense light, radiation, biological agents etc. could become ill due to the working environment. The illness or disease which the workers get due to work environment is known as occupational disease. Occupational diseases cause specific physical or mental health problems to workers in a particular profession. For instance, for those working in radiation laboratories, the occupational diseases are cancer, anaemia etc. In a work place with heavy noise, hearing related problems may arise. Those using benzene may get blood cancer. Bromine and carbon disulphide may cause mental illness. Hydrogen sulphide could damage vision, the sense of smell, or nervous system. Although such occupational diseases are not commonly found among the lab staff of educational institutions, attention must be paid to the possibility of such diseases.

The Government of India formulated Factories Act in 1948 to safeguard the service conditions of the workers in factories. This is applicable to the workers in industrial laboratories also. Subsequently many amendments were added to this Act. It is worth mentioning about the amendment brought to Factories Act in 1987. This is one of a series of regulations brought by the Government of India subsequent to Bhopal gas tragedy. 'This amendment contains special provisions on hazardous industrial activities.