Safe and Healthy Work Environment: A Study of Artisans of Indian Metalware Handicraft Industry

Abstract

Swami Vivekananda (2001 [1907]) said ‘with means alright, end must come’. To elaborate the saying of the great visionary, if the people working in an organization are happy and contented, it will have a positive bearing upon the output. The concept of quality of work life has drawn the interest of a number of scholars at various points of time in different kinds of environmental settings. The current study is based on one of the eight constructs proposed by Walton related to quality of work life ‘safe and healthy working conditions’ which include variables such as physical working conditions (cleanliness, lighting, temperature, ventilation), ergonomics, workplace safety and working hours. This construct indicates a safe and healthy work environment in the organization. The employers must ensure that the safety of the employees is reasonably taken care of. This can in turn reduce the costs related to employee injury such as medical care, sick leave and disability benefit costs. This construct of quality of work life consist of 15 measurable variables.