Health Impact of Ship Breaking Industry at Alang

A Comparative Analysis of Alang-Sosiya village and workers

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Sanket Gaikwad 2012CCSS007

Ship Breaking

Ship breaking is a type of ship disposal process involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling

Most ships have a lifespan of few decades after that there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical.

Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially steel, to be reused

Equipment on board the vessel can also be reused.

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Ship Breaking Industry

Port cities of UK and USA were the major areas where ship breaking use to took place until the late 20th century.

This industry is now shifted to the developing countries where the environmental and labour protection laws are less stringent.

Ship breaking yards are present at Gadani in Pakistan, Alang in India, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Aliagain Turkey

China used to be an important player in the 1990s. Now its trying to reposition itself in more environmentally friendly industries.

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Alang Ship Breaking Industry

Ship breaking industry provides ◦ Ready employment to unskilled labourers, ◦ High quality steel which helps conserve energy

while reducing the need for more mining of the ore. ◦ Revenue to governments.

Earlier most ship breaking activities were concentrated in the Docks of Mumbai

To overcome the space constraints an alternative was searched, Alang in Gujarat was found appropriate for the beaching of heavy ships.

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Alang has the favourable parameters for the beaching method such as ◦ High tidal range

◦ Firm seabed

◦ Gentle seaward slope

Hence it was decided to set up a ship breaking yard on the western coast of Gulf of Cambay near Alang village.

The ship breaking yard provides employment to the migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha, Uttarpradesh, Jharkhand.

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Background

Alang Sosiya Ship breaking yard is the largest ship breaking yard in the world.

The number of ships that are recycled at Alang have increased since it started.

Since it started i.e. from 1982 in 30 years 6318 ships has been recycled, ◦ on an average of 210 ships per year. ◦ 2 ships every 3 days.

This shows the potential of the ship breaking industry. 2011- 2012 is considered to be the busiest year in

which 415 ships were recycled

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Hazardous Substances and Wastes

Asbestos and Dust Heavy and toxic metals ( lead, mercury,

cadmium, copper, zinc etc) Organomettalic substances (tributyllin) Lack of hazard communication ( storage,

labelling. Material safety datasheets) PCBs and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Welding fumes Volatile organic compounds Inhalation in confined and enclosed spaces Compressed gas

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Physical hazards and mechanical hazards Noise

Vibration

Extreme temperature

Sharp edged and other tools, saws, grinders and abrasive cutting wheels

Failure of machinery and equipment

Lack of safety guards in machines

Structural failure in the ship

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ERGONOMIC AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS Repetitive strain, awkward postures,

repetitive and monotonous work, excessive workload

Mental stress, anti social behaviour ( aggressive behaviour, alcohol, violence)

Long working hours, and temporary employment

Poverty, low wages, under age workers lack of education and social environment

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The ship breaking occupation id the most dangerous in the world.

Ship breakers generally do not have protective gears, if provided are of inferior quality

Average annual incidence of fatal accidents in the ship breaking industry at Alang during the period of 1995-2005 is two per 1000 workers

Analysis of fatal accidents shows that most frequent cause of injuries were ◦ Fall from height (21 per cent) ◦ Fire (20 per cent) ◦ Being struck by falling objects (18 per cent) ◦ Gassing ( 11 per cent) ◦ Striking against objects (11 per cent) ◦ Explosions (6 per cent)

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Putting Profits before People: The Human Costs of Ship-breaking The ship breaker emerges more or less as a

replaceable commodity, less human, and the basic guarantees of life and dignity are not for him/her.

This is because, even if one worker is lost, there are thousands willing to take the place.

The workers at the yard are unorganised and generally not visible to law.

Absence of any trade union limits the bargaining power of the workers.

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Policy and legal Framework

The primary international legal hazardous waste management law is Basel Convention on the Control of Tans- boundary Movements of Hazardous wastes and their Disposal, 1989.

United Nations Convention on the law of Sea is also related to ship breaking

ILO has established standards to protect workers for occupational safety and health.

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Contd.

IMO conventions on merchant vessels and maritime safety ◦ Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping

of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972

◦ The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007

◦ The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Antifouling Systems on Ships, 2001

◦ the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004. ◦ International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from

Ships, 1973

◦ Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.

◦ IMO Guidelines on Ship Recycling, 2003

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Laws and regulatory frame work in India Laws Protecting workers right

◦ The Factories Act

◦ Minimum Wages Act

◦ Payment of Wages Act

◦ Workmen’s Compensation Act ◦ Contract Labour Act

◦ Interstate Migrant Workmen Act

◦ Employee’s State Insurance Act

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Contd.

Laws for environmental protection ◦ Air ( prevention and control) of Pollution Act

◦ Water ( prevention and control) of Pollution Act

◦ Environment protection Act

◦ Disaster Management Act

◦ Batteries ( management and Handling) Rules

◦ The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules

◦ Coastal Regulation Zone Notification

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Contd.

◦ Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules

◦ Noise Pollution ( Regulation and Control) Rules

◦ Plastics Manufacture, Sale and usage Rules

◦ Chemical Accidents Emergency Planning, Preparedness Response Rules

◦ The Environmental impact Assessment Notification

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Practice of Ship breaking today

The Ship Recycling Regulation provides for ex-gratia and other payments in event of death or accidents.

workers suffer from severe health complications long after their stint at Alang.

The Regulation is also silent on working hours, overtime, and improved living conditions in the yards

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Ground reality

Fatal accidents due to improper safety measure is frequent incidences

No legal action has been taken against the employers

Presence of legal frame work do not reduce the number of fatal accidents in the yard.

On an average 5 death occurs every year on the yard.

This year already 5 death occurred in 3 months.

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Research Questions

What are the major health impacts of ship-breaking industry at Alang, on the workers who are in direct contact with the harmful working environment?

What intervention has been made to address the health impacts of the ship-breaking industry at Alang?

What lessons can be drawn from the studies which will ensure effective implementation of health policy and regulations to provide a safe workplace for the workers in the yard?

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Methodology

A survey of 290 workers and 72 households was conducted

Workers were categorized into Skilled, semi skilled, unskilled.

A detailed questionnaire was prepared for the workers

Similar questionnaire was designed for the villages near the Ship breaking yard.

Both the questionnaires were prepared to ◦ understand the health status of the workers ◦ Monthly expenditure and income

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Acts and its implementation status

Even though legal institutions and framework are present for protecting workers right, they are not properly implemented.

Chapter 3 of Factories act states about guidelines for ◦ Cleanliness ◦ Disposal of wastes and effluents ◦ Drinking water facility ◦ Latrines and urinals.

As the workers are not registered, they cannot claim for increase in wages according to the Minimum wages Act, hence the employers pays them wages which are suitable according to them

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Contd.

No overtime bonus is given even though almost every worker works for 11 to 12 hours, which is mandatory according to Factories Act.

According to ESIC, hospital which is already been constructed, shall be operated and maintained by ESIC only if 10000 workers should have health insurance funded by the employers and at least 25000 workers should be registered in the area.

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Contd.

Inter state Migration Act states that, migrant workers should be paid equally for the same amount of work performed by non migrant workers.

A suitable place for accommodation with proper medical facility.

But this all is not seen in the yard, workers live in the neighbouring areas without proper water and electricity facility.

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Age Classification of workers

18%

41%

37%

4%

age group (percentage)

15-25 26-35

36-50 50+

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Education level of workers

40%

39%

15%

3% 3%

education classification

1st-5th

5th-10th

10th-12th

12th+

No education

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Type of labour

67%

9%

24%

type of labour

skilled unskilled

semikilled

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Income (workers)

3.10

90.69

5.52

0.34

workers' monthly income

below 5000

5001 to 10000

1001 to 15000

15001 +

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Duration of working hours

5%

95%

Duration of work

8 hrs above 8 hrs

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Training received

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

General safety for all use of PPE Fire Fighting Gas cutting Handling of Hazarodouswaste

perc

en

tage

training

Training received

yes no

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Safety equipment provided

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Mask Helmet Boiler suit Safety shoes Gloves Any other

perc

en

tage

safety eqipments

Safety equipment provided

yes no

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Distribution of average income (workers)

Health Rent Transport Water Toilet ElectricityElectronic

itemsChildren’s education

Food Others

workers 8.07 4.00 6.04 4.42 0.09 2.20 5.24 9.81 38.01 8.53

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

perc

en

tage

Distribution of average income spent (percentage), workers

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Distribution of average income (villagers)

Health Rent Transport Water Toilet ElectricityElectronic

itemsChildren’s education

Food Others

villagers 9.89 0.48 16.05 1.07 0.00 4.64 6.60 16.13 71.06 67.83

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

perc

en

tage

distribution of average income spent (percentage) , villagers

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Comparison of health expenses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage group

Comparison of health expenses

percentage of income spent onhealth(villagers')

percentage of income spent onhealth (workers')

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Expenses on rent

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage of income

Percentage of income spent on rent

percentage of income spent onrent (workers)

percentage of income spent onrent (villagers)

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Expenses on electricity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage of income

Percentage of income spent on electricity

percentage of income spent on electricity(workers)

percentage of income spent on electricity(villagers)

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Expenses on children’s education

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage of income

Percentage of income spent on children's education

percentage of income spenton children's education(workers)

percentage of income spenton children's education(villagers)

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Expenses on food

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage of income

Percentage of income spent on food

percentage of income spenton food (workers)

percentage of income spenton food (villagers)

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Expenses on other items

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 to5 5 to 10 10 to20 20 to 30 30 to 40 40+

perc

en

tage

percentage of income

Percentage of income spent on others

percentage of income spent onothers (workers)

percentage of income spent onothers (villagers)

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Red Cross Hospital Data

Year OPD Surgical Orthopaedic

Dressi

ngs

Injection Sutures I & d

Foreign

body

removal

Nail

evulsion

s

Plaster

slab

Splint Elasto-

crepe

Rest

2013 2149 536 649 39 22 27 10 23 19 36 0

2012 2245 814 757 33 22 24 12 16 14 28 0

2011 2041 1011 848 46 39 34 17 19 19 35 0

2010 2305 864 544 37 21 16 9 15 9 27 0

2009 2601 894 554 37 10 15 6 14 10 24 3

2008 2265 865 747 60 16 8 11 12 14 24 0

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Red Cross Hospital Data

Year Special test investigation

Specialities

consultations

surgeon

X-ray Pathology

lab ECG Orthopaedic Physician Skin

2013 113 35 0 91 36 65

2012 73 51 0 93 53 150

2011 63 68 1 90 47 77

2010 50 43 0 76 39 68

2009 62 14 0 97 59 87

2008 45 10 0 82 48 83

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Conclusion

Long working hours put lot of stress on the workers making them susceptible to long term illness.

Occupational hazards is another problem which they have to deal with.

◦ Fatal accidents at the workplace

◦ Injuries due to work is common among workers

Mainly the health impacts are due to improper

Further due to less health facilities available at the Alang, workers might get diseases which might develop after some years.

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Contd.

Two hospitals are present at Alang, ◦ Red Cross Hospital

◦ Alang Private hospital

Even though hospital facility is present, it is insufficient to maintain proper health status of the workers.

Another hospital which has been constructed is under dispute, for control of operating and maintenance of the hospital.

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Contd.

It can be observed that from villagers point of view the Ship Breaking Industry is beneficial as it provides employment, and resale business.

While from workers point of view the employment issue is prioritized and the health aspects of workers is often neglected, which further reduces workers’ access to health facility

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Contd.

For effective implementation of the Acts and legal framework, most important is that all the workers should be registered under the employers where they are working.

Secondly employers should be penalise for ineffective implementation of the laws

Employers are liable for payments and maintenance of safe working environment, they should be penalise for any delay in payments or for not providing a safe working space.

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Contd.

Supreme Court guidelines for handling of toxic wastes that can cause occupational diseases such as asbestosis and itching should be strictly followed.

Problem of potable water and proper place for accommodation can be solved by collective efforts of stake holders.

The motto of ILO to provide decent work to all can be realized only when the grievance of the workers are identified and promptly addressed.

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