Tunnel trapped workers: from Occupational Safety to Occupational Health
On Sunday, 12th November 2023, at around 5.30 AM IST, a portion of the Silkyara Bend - Barkot tunnel, under construction, collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of the state of Uttarakhand, India. 41 workers got trapped inside the tunnel. On Tuesday, 28th November, after 17 days,...
Domestic workers and Occupational Health
Domestic work is an old occupation with ancient Mesopotamian (present day Iraq, parts of present-day Iran, Syria, Turkey and Kuwait) sources referring to it. Historically, domestic workers were employed by those who could afford a helping hand to do their daily chores. Domestic work was...
AI systems at workplace: an emerging concern in worker health
It is not for the first time in modern history that workers are worried that machines or a new technology will render them obsolete and outdated. However, it is for the first time that research is being done aptly to know if a new technology...
Fatigue amongst pilots: an Occupational Health and Safety concern
Fatigue is a feeling of being extremely tired. It is a feeling of constant exhaustion, burnout or lack of energy. Fatigue is associated with a strong feeling of sleep. Everyone is aware that fatigue can lead to accidents, wrong decisions etc. Yet people try to...
Eye discomfort at workplace: take steps now
Eye discomfort use to happen even a few decades ago but were much lesser and the reasons were different. Eye discomforts were found in the elderly, those doing a lot of data entering work in register books, and due to inadequate (dim) lighting. Good lighting...
Can office design influence your health and well-being?
The 21st century has seen offices undergo changes in their look and feel. It started with cubicles giving way to open offices. By 2015, offices had ping pong and foosball tables. Even small offices with the constraints of space and budget offered some wellness activity...
Preventing ‘take-home toxins’ from being taken from workplace
Hazards at workplace should remain at workplace; they shouldn’t come home. Responsible workplaces have a method to mitigate these hazards. When workplace hazards come home, they rub on the family members and cause them harm – and that’s not a nice thing. A worker can...
Occupational Health issues in call-centre workers
Every occupation has the potential to cause injuries and illnesses in workers. It is immaterial if the worker is from the top management or otherwise; is white-collared or otherwise. In a high-profile industry, depending on the job, the robot is both the new blue-collar as...
