Contract workers - no concern for their safety?

Safety of contract workers is given less importance compared to regular employees. In industrial areas, we can find this difference glaringly. Even the contractor who provides manpower also is not concerned though he may be charging the organization for use of safety appliances by his personnel. These daily wage earners are treated like no entity and the contractors who earn money by using these people are nothing short of leeches. Factory managements and factory inspectors should penalize heavily such contractors so that they feel it is better to provide safety appliances rather than paying the penalty. Ordering the closure of factory also will do good as managements can ensure safety for contract workers also by whatever means it is appropriate. Sometime back I listened to a talk wherein the speaker said that the contractor will be penalized Rs. 5,000/- for every violation and this money is credited into safety awareness fund. After three violations, the contractor will be blacklisted. I feel such measures will help in creating awareness by force among all and ensure safety for all.

Odd and extra working hours - some facilities to staff

It is common for persons to work extra hours for various reasons. May be some shopfloor problems are to be attended, a report is to be made urgently, production schedules are to be met, breakdown maintenance is to be done, somebody did not report and person doing the work has to continue next shift, and so on. These persons need to be taken care properly by allowing them to have break for some rest, some snacks/food, proper sitting/rest place, etc. Though Factories Act requires these issues to be attended, in many factories, there are no change rooms / canteen facilities, particularly for daily wage earners / contract workers. They have to settle under a tree or shed for rest and to have their food. 

So called canteens supply tea/coffee and food at fixed timings and those who have to take meals/food at intervals find it difficult and their health and performance is affected over a time period. One can't bring food prepared at home to meet his/her requirement for extended working hours. And cakes/biscuits can't replace the regular food. 

Managements should ensure availability of fresh, energetic and hygienic food at all times to their employees so that they too can have their break and refreshment and resume the work with renewed vigor. 

Electrocution of two contract workers

As per news paper report, two persons died while climbing down the electric pole after doing repair jobs on a 11 kv feeder line. As per the reports, after the incident, other contract employees disconnected the power supply. It is a basic rule to deenergize the lines before taking up any maintenance jobs on or near electrical lines, electrical fittings and restore power supply only after ensuring that the planned work is completed and persons landed down safely.
As I mentioned in my earlier posts, one should not opt for shortcuts. There is no urgency in restoring the power supply, when lives of workers on the line are at risk. If the rules are not followed, then incidents like this continue to occur. Rules are repository of experiences so many persons who lost their lives and we need not learn afresh by endangering our own lives. Proper supervision is also required, particularly when we engage contract workers as they live on daily wages and do not have facilities like those regular employees. We should not cut cost at the cost of valuable lives.