Does Improving Workmen’s Skill Help in Mitigating Occupation Hazards? – A Case Study at Construction Site

Abstract

Studies show that construction is among the most dangerous occupations and implementation of occupational safety and health at work there poses several challenges for various reasons. Some of the reasons are common globally, such as dynamic nature of the activity, casual nature of employment, migration, exposure to extreme weather etc. Some issues are specific, connected to demography, socioeconomic background, organizational culture, including education, training, supervision, etc. In India, construction industry is growing at a fast pace with increasingly large number of people - an estimated 41 million, as per the 12th 5-year plan. During recent years there have been efforts to transform construction work to be more mechanized and skill based, though this process will take time to be effective, given various factors, including variety and volume associated. Generally, large percentages of workmen originate from agrarian as well as other technically non-relevant backgrounds; do not have relevant skills or competencies before starting their career. Many of them start working and keep learning on the job. Traditionally these workers too, get equally exposed to several high level occupational risks, in-built with the nature of the construction work, leaving them prone to injuries and occupational illnesses, which gets aggravated due to their relevant knowledge and skill. Various initiatives taken by enterprises as well as by the Governments for developing skill level of workmen through structured skill based training has proven to be a good step not only for improvement of productivity and quality but also to enhance their understanding about the occupational hazards and steps needed for mitigation. It has been noted that though the construction workers are exposed to high risk in general, the pattern of their interaction with occupational hazards changes once they go through various levels of formal on-the-job or off-the-job skill improvement training. It is in contrast with the response of construction workers who have not received any such training at all. A study of injury pattern also suggests that skilled people have been less prone to incidents as they are well equipped, in terms of knowledge, skill and attitude, to adapt the unique challenges of exposure to occupational hazards at construction work.