What is occupational health and safety?
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is the discipline of protecting employees from injury, illness and harm caused by their work. It covers identifying hazards, preventing accidents, providing protective equipment, training employees and monitoring their health. In India, employers' OHS duties are set out in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
OHS follows a simple order: remove the hazard where possible, reduce it where not (guards, ventilation, safer processes), then protect people from what remains (training, protective equipment, safe work rules). Health surveillance, such as periodic medical exams for workers exposed to noise, dust or chemicals, catches harm early.
OHS matters beyond factories. In offices it covers ergonomics, fire safety, evacuation drills, electrical safety and, increasingly, stress and mental health. Strong OHS reduces injuries, absence, legal risk and insurance costs, and feeds ESG and BRSR reporting for listed companies.
In India
The OSH Code, 2020, in force since November 2025, requires employers to provide a safe workplace, free annual health exams for prescribed categories of employees, and accident reporting, plus safety committees and safety officers in larger establishments. Many companies also certify to ISO 45001, the international OHS management standard.
In practice
A warehouse records three back injuries in a quarter. The OHS review finds workers lifting heavy cartons by hand, so the company adds trolleys and lift assists, trains staff on safe lifting, and has the on-site OHC run musculoskeletal checks. Every change is logged for the next safety audit.
Common questions
Why is health and safety important in the workplace?
It prevents injuries and illness, keeps employees productive, reduces absence and legal risk, and is a legal duty for employers.
What are examples of occupational health and safety measures?
Hazard assessments, machine guards, protective equipment, fire drills, ergonomic workstations, safety training and periodic medical exams.
What is the difference between OHS and OHC?
OHS is the overall discipline of workplace health and safety. An OHC (Occupational Health Centre) is the on-site medical facility that delivers part of it.
What is ISO 45001?
The international standard for occupational health and safety management systems, which organisations can be certified against.