Readers' safety tips: 'Employ more women security staff'

We'd asked you to share your suggestions and tips on how women can ensure safety at work.

THANK YOU, Readers for your quick responses.

Here are some of the best we received:

• Safety at work: Be alert. Trust your instincts

Reader Vinod Banthia shared his personal experience while offering solutions:

"In Alcoa Inc, where I was working in 1980s and 1990s, there was a strict safety practice -- 'Buddy system'

"As per the system, no male or female can be at work all alone at any day or time.

"Back then, such attacks, as happened in Pune were rarity, if there were any.

"The system was put in place to ensure that even if one were to fall sick, or meet with an accident in the workshop and needed medical attention, another person was available to take care."

Tapas Biswas from Kolkata said he was saddened by the Pune murder and explained why he was in favour of women working in pairs.

"I was in Shillong, Meghalaya, for few years where women were (the) family heads. As many of them were poor they went to work as domestic help in the cities. The young girls who came to work at these houses worked in pairs of twos or threes.

"While working, they also indulged in chit chat among themselves and worked with joy. This arrangement, I believe, helped them avoid sexual harassment or rape.

"If this is introduced in all parts of India, even (among) girls working as domestic help, it may avert sad incidents like what happened at Infosys.

"Involvement of more women security personnel at work places where women employees are working is important. For example, in a company where there are 100 employees and six security personnel, out of the six, three must be women.

Most organisations avoid employing women as security personnel. To implement this too, there must be stringent laws to stop killings/ murders of our daughters."

Ramchandra Pattnaik's suggestions:

"Assume that there is danger and leave nothing to chance.

"There should be a well-worked-out protocol for safety of women workers.

"The lackadaisical attitude from the people who matter in the management about women safety should change.

"Recognise the fact that, so far, we all have failed in women safety issue and act to improve."

• Could the Pune techie's murder have been prevented?

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Dear Readers, how can women ensure their safety at work?

According to you, what can organisations do to make workplaces safer for female employees?

E-mail your experiences, tips and suggestions to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject: Workplace Safety Tips) along with your NAME, AGE and LOCATION, if possible. We'll publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com.

Lead image used for representational purposes only. Image: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters