Beyond Compliance: A Comprehensive OSH-Based Evaluation of Hospital Staff Welfare in India
Abstract
Occupational safety and health bracket (OSH) is a critical yet underexplored dimension of hospital infrastructure in India, despite increasing global emphasis on employee welfare. . Many Indian hospitals continue to under prioritise staff experiences related to safety, mental health and harassment. This study addresses this gap by exploring hospital staff welfare through four key lenses: exposure to workplace hazards, adequacy of safety provisioning, mental well-being, and incidence of workplace bullying rather than focusing only on structural safety. The research places equal emphasis on emotional and social dimensions of employee welfare. Emphasizing the emotional and social dimensions of employee welfare, the study employs a survey-based quantitative methodology involving 73 hospital employees across various t departments and experience levels. Using a quantitative methodology, responses were analysed using statistical tests using t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analysis to assess statistically significant differences across gender work, experience, department, and working hours. Findings reveal that male employees, and those with 4 to 10 years of experience reported significantly higher levels of bullying, indicating possible issues with hierarchy or departmental culture. While differences in safety provisioning were not statistically significant, observed patterns indicate potential under-provisioning in specific departments. Rental scores were uniform across all groups, which may reflect either genuine consistency or lack of awareness/reporting around psychological distance. Exposure to work place hazard, show significant gender based differences highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Overall the study reveals that even in hospitals that appear to comply with basic safety norms, fall short in addressing how safety and well-being are experienced by staff in practice. These findings underscore the necessity for a more inclusive,employee centric approach to (OSH) in the Indian healthcare system that integrates both physical and mental wellbeing as essential components of staff welfare.
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