Study highlights need to safeguard women’s health in the workplace

Says Dr Kaila whose study encompassed 730 women and 80 medical welfare personnel / doctors from various locations in Mumbai,“ There is a strong need to study women in stress at work. So far, no direct attention has been made to the burdens and the stress of the dual career.”

The health problems include those brought about by physical stress, mental pressure, those related to posture while working and others.

According to the National Commission of Self employed women and women inthe informal sector, it is necessary to examine in detail women at workand the effects, both in terms of physical and mental health, in order to understand the occupational health aspects. The influence of stress factors on psychological conditions of working women in various establishments andindustrial houses, identified different variables like the number of children a woman has, family relations, demand of work and role variety.The commissions reported health problems like body ache and eyestrain among paper bag makers in Delhi, while the Task force on Health reported, that women in the electronics industry who have to constantly go on fitting the circuits using only hand and shoulders in repetitive movements had complaints of extreme mental and physical fatigue.A survey on 653 women involved in agricultural activities and exposed to pesticides, directly or indirectly reported headache, dizziness or nausea. These women are aware of the harmful effects of pesticide poisoning but not about the seriousness of the problem

In another study on 164 zari workers, 106 women reported headaches, 125 suffered from burning eye sensation in eyes and 25 suffered from backaches. It is reported that constant eye pain develops in these women after 8 to 10 years of work. And if these women do this work for longer period it leads to neck and back pain.

Kaila points out that, in India there has been no attempt to research the effects of VDT (Video Display Terminal) work and its health effects even as the number of women in this field grow. According to Kaila women in the beedi-making industry women who are likely to be exposed to nicotine, a high incidence of abortion (19 per cent) and irregular menstruation (13 per cent) has been observed, while women working in a chemical hazardous environment need to be given adequate precautions.

There is need for legislative protection and support to safeguard women from health hazard exposure at work places. The 1987 amendments of occupational health and safety provisions of Indian Factories Act (1948) is a comprehensive approach towards better physical and mental well being of the women, adds Dr Kaila. µOrganisations that employ women should practice or maintain occupational health services to some extent. There is also a need to introduce these services at workplaces where they are not available.Kaila who has also worked with various non governmental organisations (NGOs) states that it is unrealistic to assume that all issues in occupational health will be resolved in a short term but efforts should be made for a more comprehensive understanding interface of work and worker to minimise various occupational health related problems and ensure well-being.

WOMEN AND COMPUTERS
There has been a steady increase of the number of women involved with video display terminal (VDTs) work especially in the sectors like the railways, banking,communications, travel and so on.

A study on female computer users noted that upper back aches and neck pain were common. This probem has been found to be varying across computer exposure time, and was higher among those women who used the computer for more than 75 per cent of their time at the workplace during the day.

Another health problem often overlooked is that afflicting domestic servants (bais). Many of them suffered from cracked hands and sore feet because of prolonged work in water, using abrasive powders and soaps

WHAT CAN BE DONE
It has been suggested that those organisations that employ alarge woman work force should maintain occupational health services. These include training in yoga and other exercise programmes and periodic health check-ups.Welfare personnel in the industry should recommend health check-ups and the services of an occupational health specialist, along with the services of a good physiotherapist.

Other suggestions from experts include the need to provide psychiatrist and psychological counseling. Continued research studies of women, work and health are essential.