OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN INDIA: A NEED FOR A PREVENTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE WORKPLACE CULTURE

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) has become an increasingly important concern in India as industrialisation, urbanisation, technological development, and the expansion of employment continue to reshape the world of work. Workplace safety is no longer limited to preventing machinery-related accidents or physical injuries. Workers may face chemical exposure, biological risks, unsafe equipment, poor ergonomics, occupational diseases, excessive working hours, workplace violence, stress, and other psychosocial risks. These concerns exist across sectors, including construction, manufacturing, mining, chemical industries, agriculture, informal employment, and healthcare. India has developed a substantial legal framework for protecting workers, culminating in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, which came into force on November 21, 2025. However, the existence of legislation alone cannot guarantee safe working conditions. The continuing occurrence of workplace accidents, under-reporting of occupational diseases, inadequate safety infrastructure, and institutional failures demonstrate the need for stronger implementation and accountability. Recent attention to workplace safety following the R.G. Kar Medical College incident has further shown that occupational safety also includes dignity, security, gender-sensitive protection, and psychological well-being. The central concern, therefore, should be to move from a culture that reacts to accidents towards one that identifies and prevents risks before workers are harmed. Keywords: Occupational Safety and Health; Occupational Hazards; Workplace Safety; Occupational Diseases; Worker Protection.