Reducing health hazards to mill workers in India

Summary

Provide education and technical assistance to minimize silica emissions from stone crusher mills in the Khurda District of Orissa. We measure exposures, train workers, and promote medical screening.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Airborne silica generated from stone crusher mills (used to produce gravel used in construction) throughout Orissa, India is suspected to be the cause of increased morbidity and mortality rates from silicosis, cancer, and other lung disease. Unprotected workers, including children, working without respirators, in plants lacking proper ventilation or dust removal systems, are exposed to clouds of silica dust. Emissions from these operations are also known to affect local communities.

How will this project solve this problem?

Demonstrate pollution control equipment to reduce emissions, work to ban stone crusher mills in close vicinity of housing, and establish periodic health check ups for workers to screen lung disease.

Potential Long Term Impact

To reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer and respiratory disease by reducing the exposures to silica and to provide education to workers and employers about health hazards and emission controls;

Project Message

"We are an indigenous, tribal people exposed to clouds of dust and are exploited in crusher industries in different ways. Still we are compelled to work her for our livelihood." (a crusher worker)
- Ms. Madhusmita Mishra, Secretary

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources