Jamshedpur, Nov. 4: Do not be surprised if you come across women contractual labourers at Tata Steel working in trousers and shirts.

Concerned over the safety and the accidents due to loose clothing, the steel major has decided to implement trousers and shirts replacing sarees for the women contractual employees.

Chief of safety and ergonomics, Tata Steel, O.B. Krishna, told The Telegraph that they have implemented the system in an attempt to bring about flexibility among women contract workers, who are prone to accidents because of their loose clothing.

Du Pont Safety Restructuring, a US-based consultant firm hired by Tata Steel last year, has been able to bring about this significant change in the mindset of the contractual workers, who so far have been wearing sarees while working.

?The international consultancy firm, known worldwide for setting high safety standards, has been able to motivate the women workers who hail from the lower strata of the society. Even the tribal women, who are orthodox in their beliefs, have started wearing trousers and shirts on duty after some initial hesitation,? said Krishna.

According to him, there are about 1,000 women contract workers engaged in various areas such as the blast furnace and construction sites.

The departments are gradually implementing the new system.

Officials in the safety and ergonomics department said changing rooms have been provided in each department where the women can change their clothes.

The women come to work wearing sarees, change into trousers. They leave the trousers in the room before going home.

The officials pointed out that loose clothing is not allowed in an industrial environment as it can cause accidents.

By wearing trousers and shirts, the women can easily climb up the stairs like their male counterparts.

This, in turn, increases their work efficiency, said officials.

President of Tata Workers? Union R.B.B. Singh said the departments are gradually implementing the new system.

However, he said, neither the management nor the union is in favour of enforcing it. The choice is on the women employees.

The Joint Committee on Safety Health and Environment in Steel Industry, a national forum of about 60 steel companies, had also realised the importance of adopting this practice in steel industries, which will help curb accidents.