The document discusses workplace hazards faced by workers in India's unorganized sectors. It notes that over 90% of India's workforce is employed in unorganized sectors like agriculture and services. It then outlines several common hazards like mechanical, physical, psychological, fire, and chemical hazards. Recommended precautions for each are provided. Additional hazards for specific industries like construction, agriculture, and confined spaces are also described along with precautions. The document concludes by recommending strategies to improve workplace safety like behavioral safety programs, awareness campaigns, subsidized safety equipment, and surprise government audits.

1. Sydenham Institute of Management
Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship
Education (SIMSREE)
Topic: Workplace Hazards in Unorganized Sectors
• Ankit Choksi
• Jay Sheth
• Marmik Thakore
• Vishesh K Sahlot
• Yash Mistry
Team Name : SIMSREE Protectors

2. India’s population
has crossed 1.21
billion
People in working
age group are
estimated to be
63.62% of the total
population
More than 90%
work in the
unorganised sectors
mainly agriculture
and services (60%
self-employed and
30% without regular
jobs)
The unorganized
sector generates
about 62 percent of
GDP, 50 percent of
gross national
savings and 40
percent of national
exports.

3. Mechanical
Hazards
Due to unshielded
machinery, unsafe
structures in the workplace
and dangerous tools
Precautions : Rigorous
training about the safe
usage of machinery and
tools for every employee
before onboarding
Physical
strain
Involves lifting and moving
of heavy items leading to
injuries and
musculoskeletal disorders
Precautions: Usage of
crane, levers, pulleys and
wheel barrows should be
made a compulsion
Psychological
stress
Monotonous work, requiring
constant concentration,
irregular working hours and
work pressure leads to
psychological stress
Precautions: Working in
shifts of 8 hours should be
made compulsory with
adequate break schedule.

4. - Workers are primarily
exposed to risk of fire as
inflammable items are
manufactured
- Child labor is extremely
rampant in this industry
Precautions: Mock Fire
drills should be conducted
quarterly
-Fire extinguisher s should
be installed and checked at
regular intervals
- Inflammable article should
be properly stored
Fire
Crackers
and
Cigarettes
-Chemical exposure leads
to various health effects
including damage to the
central nervous system,
liver , skin
-Respiratory allergies,
cancers and reproductive
disorders
Precautions: Workers
should be trained
periodically about the
chemical hazards
-Regular audits on protection
and safety measures in
organization should be made
a compulsion
Chemical
Industry

5. Falls –
- Wear and use personal fall arrest equipment
- Install and maintain perimeter protection
- Cover floor openings and label them
-Use ladders and scaffolds safely
Caught in –
- Never enter an unprotected trench or excavation >5 feet
deep without adequate protection system
- Make sure the trench is protected by sloping, shoring,
benching or trench shield systems
Struck by –
- Use personal protection equipments like hard hats, safety
glasses and face shields
- Use reflective vests to prevent being struck by a vehicle
accidently
- Do not work under a load
- Barriers to protect workers from vehicles
Electrocution –
- Maintain safe distance away from power lines
- Do not operate portable electrical goods unless they are
grounded
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters for protection
- Be alert to electrical hazards when working with ladders
and scaffolds
Precautions in
Construction
Industry

6. Fire Hearing loss
Due to use of gasoline and diesel to power construction
vehicles, power tools and generators. These flammable
materials in the presence of heat cause fire
Loud noise at the construction site leads to earache and
even deafness
Precaution – Industrial materials including industrial
apparel should be made of flame resistant material
Precaution – The workers should use ear plugs and ear
muffs
# these are in addition
to the regular hazards
at construction sites

7. HEAT
- Workers are exposed to hot and
humid conditions
- Are at greater risk if they are not
acclimatized to hot conditions
Precautions
- Drink water every 15 minutes even
if not thirsty
- Wear a hat and light-colour clothes
-Watch out for fellow workers on site
MUSCULOSKELETAL
INJURIES
-Repetitive movements in awkward
positions can cause musculoskeletal
injuries
Precautions
- Ergonomic protections
- Proper tools
- Padding to reduce vibration
- Fewer activities with high
repetition
PESTICIDES AND
OTHER CHEMICALS
-Workers can be exposed to toxic
pesticides due to spills, defective,
missing or inadequate protective
equipment, direct spray, or drift
Precautions
-Spray only when weather conditions
are suitable to reduce spray drift
- Use personal protective equipment
identified in the instructions
- Wash off splashes from the skin and
clothes immediately

8. CONFINED SPACE
• - Loss of consciousness due to poisonous gases
or lack of oxygen
- Injury due to fire or explosion
- Asphyxiation due to free-flowing solids
• Precautions
- Providing personal protective equipment
including breathing apparatus
- Testing the atmosphere to make sure it
can support life
- Make necessary arrangements to handle
emergency
LIVESTOCK
• - Risk of injury from crushing, kicking,
butting or goring
• Precautions
-Provide proper restraining and handling
equipment
- Have a rump rail, chain or bar to
minimise forward and backward
movement of the animal
- Be positioned in a manner that will allow
you to work safely around it

9. Biannual surprise audits
conducted by Government
employees at workplace
Strict actions (cancellation
of license and/or
imprisonment ) in case of
grave negligence
Voluntary groups (College
students, CSR, NGO)
should spread awareness
regarding safety measures
via films or street plays
thereby creating a sensation
Providing safety equipment
at subsidized rates to those
self employed in
unorganized sector
Implementation of
Behavioral Based safety
Programme

10. Identifying
critical
behaviours
Analysis of at-risk
behaviours, steering
committee of
frontline operation
personnel to be
made to solve them
Gathering Data
Done by trained
observers who are
mostly fellow
workers,
anonymous
reporting should be
done to avoid blame
game
Encouraging
Two way
Feedback
Observer can
provide the person
performing the task
with immediate
feedback on at-risk
behaviours and
provide
reinforcement on
safe work
performance
Stimulating
Continuous
Improvement
Data allows site
personnel to target
areas of
improvement and
demonstrate to
workers that their
input is critical and
an important
component of the
programme