Page 322 - DMGT106_MANAGING_HUMAN_ELEMENTS_AT_WORK

Managing Human Element at Work

Notes Mental Health: These days the mental health of employees has become a matter of concern
for the employers. There are three main factors that are increasing the mental problems of
the employees. The first factor is the mental breakdown that occurs because of pressures and
tensions. The second factor is the mental disturbance of different types, which results in
reduced productivity and hence decreases the company profit. The third and last factor is the
mental illness, which arises due to personal disputes among the employees and high
employee turnover.
Noise Control: The hearing problems till the past few years were considered due to old age
or they were not taken so seriously. Health problems due to noise came into existence with
the invention of machineries for almost all the productions. These days noise from the
machineries has increased problems like hearing impairment among the employees. It is
said that exposure of an individual to noise for a long period of time results in deafness.
Hearing impairment is not the only result of exposure to noise, other problems such as
hormonal imbalance, changes in blood circulation, dizziness, increase in respiratory rate,
heartburn, sleep disturbance and fatigue, also occur because of noise. The Factories Act, 1948
and Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923 also includes noise problems as a disease that
should be taken care of by the management. Table 14.3 shows the permissible levels of noise
in an industry.

Table 14.3: Permissible Levels of Noise in an Industry

Permissible Exposure

Total Time per day, in Hours Sound Pressure Level in (dBA)

8 90
6 92

4 95

3 97
2 100

1
1 102
2

1 105
3
107
4

1
110
2
1
115
4

While the workers may be used to the noise, their body slowly suffers from the noise
problems. Table 14.4 shows the noise level that the industry produces.

316 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY