Industrial Diseases

TOPIC: Science & Tech

Context- Dying a slow but sure death due to silicosis, the mine workers of Rajasthan have been fighting for a welfare board since 2018.

Concept-

The Rajasthan government had come up with a policy in October 2019 to bail out silicosis-aﬀected workers and prevention of the disease. However, this policy is still awaiting its implementation.
As per this policy, there is a provision of immediate financial aid of ₹3 lakh to a silicosis patient and ₹2 lakh to the dependents in case of his death, apart from ₹1,500 monthly pension to the widow of the victim.
But ﬁgures show that hardly 10 percent of the victims have received this aid.
As per an estimate, 27,463 workers have been recognised as silicosis patients, in addition to 21,000 cases pending medical diagnosis.

Occupational Diseases:

An occupational disease is any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of work or occupational activity. It is an aspect of occupational safety and health.
The first such disease to be recognised, squamous-cell carcinoma of the scrotum, was identified in chimney sweep boys by Sir Percival Pott in 1775.
Occupational hazards that are of a traumatic nature (such as falls by roofers) are not considered to be occupational diseases.
Occupational disease continues to be a leading cause of illness and death to workers in the mining industry.
Some examples of occupational disease in mining include:
- asbestosis, mesothelioma
- silicosis
- cancers
- lung (gold mining, coke oven)
- nasal (nickel)
- gastro-intestinal
- chronic obstructive lung disease (sulfur dioxide)
- emphysema
- skin diseases
- hearing loss (noise)
Some examples of exposure that can lead to occupational disease in mining include:
- blasting gases: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide
- diesel emissions: elemental/organic carbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide
- drilling, mucking, rock breaking: silica, general dust
- refining: metals, sulfur dioxide, dust, chemical reagents
- welding fumes, from the heating and burning of metal surfaces