Institutional Blind Spots in OHS: A Study on Awareness, Hazards, and Structural Barriers for Female Workers in Rice Mill Industry

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) among female workers in the rice mill industry is a critical issue. This study focuses on the level of awareness among both workers and workplace authorities. It also identified the common health hazards women faced due to their working environment and how the system responds to them. Findings show that, despite the hazardous nature of the work environment, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) awareness remains notably low among both stakeholders: the female workers and the authority, though the inconsideration of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is contributing to the persistence of preventable occupational health risks. This study identifies respiratory problems and musculoskeletal disorders as the common health hazards faced by female workers. Female workers frequently identified their working environment as the root cause of their health issue, again never claimed Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measure due to unawareness. It also explains little institutional education of workers and traditional inheritance of ‘Chatal’ keep both workers and ‘Mahajan’ unaware regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) from generation to generation. Following purely qualitative methods this qualitative study critically analyzes the institutional responsiveness and structural gaps in enforcing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, revealing a significant disconnect between policy frameworks it’s all sector inclusion and on-ground implementation. Findings highlight the need for interventions in informal sector, gender-sensitive Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training and facilities, and stronger regulatory system to ensure Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) system before establishing rice mill to ensure safer working conditions for female laborers in the rice milling sector.