Health survey in gypsum mines in India

Abstract

Background:Mining is a hazardous occupation in which workers are exposed to adverse conditions. In India, gypsum mining is mainly carried out in the state of Rajasthan, which contributes about 99% of the total production.Objective:The present study was carried out in 12 different gypsum mines in Rajasthan state to determine the health status of the miners.Materials and Methods:One hundred and fifty workers engaged in mining activities were included in the study and their health status was compared with that of 83 office staff of the same mines. The health status of the employees was evaluated using a standardized medical questionnaire and pulmonary function testing.Statistical Analysis:The unpaired ‘t’ test was used to determine whether there was any significant difference between the miners and the controls and the chi-square test to compare the prevalences of various respiratory impairments in workers with that in controls; we also examined the differences between smokers and nonsmokers.Results:Our findings show that the literacy rate is low (42%) among the miners. Pulmonary restrictive impairment was significantly higher amongst smokers as compared to nonsmokers in both miners and controls. Hypertension (22.6%), diabetes (8.8%), and musculoskeletal morbidity (8%) were the common diseases in miners.Conclusion:This study shows that there is high morbidity amongst miners, thus indicating the need for regular health checkups, health education, use of personal protective devices, and engineering measures for control of the workplace environment.

Non-communicable diseases in decontamination workers in areas affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster: a retrospective observational study

“…Migrant agricultural workers and miners are likely to be exposed to a wide variety of occupational risks3 4 because in addition to workplace hazards, they may have a low socioeconomic status (SES), as measured by their level of education, income and occupation 56 Lack of social and economic resources, exposure to occupational risk and poor access to health services may exacerbate unhealthy lifestyles, leading to a higher mortality rate due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in migrant workers 78 In order to improve the workplace health and safety of migrant workers, it is imperative to pay attention not only to primary prevention of occupational and work-related diseases and injury, but also to their overall health, which is not always related to work, including underlying communicable and NCDs, mental health, health promotion and improvement of their working environment 1…”

Saúde do trabalhador e riscos ocupacionais na mineração

“…Acrescenta-se, ainda, a necessidade de intervenções periódicas, com exames regulares de saúde, educação em saúde, uso de equipamentos de proteção individual e coletiva, além de medidas de engenharia e segurança no trabalho para o controle do ambiente laboral 13 . Enfim, melhorias nas condições de trabalho.…”

“…A atividade mineral envolve diferentes condições e tipos de riscos, como possibilidades de desmoronamento, acidentes com quedas de barreiras, além do aparecimento de problemas renais pela contaminação dos cursos d'água, Doenças Osteomusculares Relacionadas ao Trabalho (DORT's), problemas auditivos, câncer, fadiga muscular, pneumoconioses, tuberculose, asma ocupacional etc. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Recentes estudos apontam para a crítica situação laboral dos mineiros, sendo imprescindível reconhecer os riscos ocupacionais presentes no processo de trabalho para intervir sobre eles, uma vez que a mineração é uma ocupação perigosa, insalubre e periculosa 1,5, .…”

Shifting of economic responsibilities on vulnerable shoulders for survival of families: a scenario from mining industry in India

“…1 Although mining is a hazardous occupation, yet it is one of the major occupations in India involving large number of work force which is going to grow in future. 2,3 Approximately 90% sandstone in India is acquired from the land of the state of Rajasthan which is largest state of India. This is used in India as well as exported to Canada, Japan, and countries in the Middle East.…”