WOMEN AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY: SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE OSH CODE, 2020

AUTHOR – AKSHAYA.R, STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN LAW, THE TAMIL NADU DR AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY

BEST CITATION – AKSHAYA.R, WOMEN AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY: SPECIAL PROVISIONS UNDER THE OSH CODE, 2020, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (5) OF 2026, PG. 712-717, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Over the last few decades, the Indian labour force has seen a shift as more women are stepping into fields that were once considered male-only. These jobs can be quite dangerous, such as mining, construction, manufacturing, chemical industries, and other physically demanding areas. Economic changes, better education, and policies that promote gender inclusion have all played a role in this transition. As women are increasingly entering these risky jobs, it’s important to focus on the specific needs and challenges they face. Jobs with hazards involve physical, chemical, and biological risks. For women in these hazardous jobs, these risks can be even greater if there isn’t a strong safety culture, adequate safety equipment, facilities designed for women, and social norms that don’t value women’s work or overlook their safety. That’s why it’s so important to have safety practices that consider gender. This ensures that basic safety and health standards are met and that workplaces are designed to be more inclusive for women. To keep up with these changes and bring together different labour laws, the Government of India created the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020. This comprehensive law aims to bring together and update workplace safety standards across different industries. This master law combines 13 current labour laws related to occupational safety, health, and working conditions into one set of rules. It applies to workplaces with a certain number of employees in various sectors. What’s great is that the OSHWC Code acknowledges women’s presence in hazardous jobs and provides legal protection for them. It also aims to improve the work environment by setting working hours, night shift rules, and standards for sanitation and hygiene. However, how well the Code works depends on how well it’s enforced and followed across the country. This paper looks closely at the safety of female workers in hazardous jobs, using the OSHWC Code, 2020, as a guide. We’ll explore the Code’s rules, find areas where it could be improved, and compare it to other laws.