[Cambodia]Gov't Says Workplace Injuries on the Rise, Reforms Needed

Gov’t Says Workplace Injuries on the Rise, Reforms Needed

BY MECH DARA AND HOLLY ROBERTSON | AUGUST 20, 2014

In the face of an increase in work-related injuries, government officials gathered in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to start work on a new plan to reduce workplace accidents and to reflect on their achievements over the past five years.

Almost 17,000 people were injured at work last year, about 2,600 more than in 2012, according to the National Social Security Fund.

The number, which relies on employers’ report, has also increased fourfold since the government launched its first Occupational Health and Safety Master Plan in 2009.

Despite the rise, officials were told that 80 percent of the plan’s targets had been met.

Leng Tong, director of the Labor Ministry’s occupational health department, said the list of achievements included enacting health and safety legislation, inspecting workplace and running health clinics for garment workers.

“Recently we have created an inter-ministry committee to prevent fainting of workers and another inter-ministry committee to check about safety in the factories,” he said. “If the factory does not reach standards we will set conditions for it to improve, and if it does not we will fine it or shut it down.”

In a presentation at the meeting, the Labor Ministry’s chief of statistics and external relations, Han Nopakun, admitted to some obstacles to protecting workers.

Chief among them, he said, were limited resources for inspections and a lack of laws and regulations in the construction industry.

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-says-workplace-injuries-on-the-rise-reforms-needed-66899/

Re: [Anroev: 2101] Hazardous stone crushing: SC takes notice of silicosis deaths in Gujranwala

This is Pakistan's Supreme Court and not Indian

Jagdish

On 14 July 2014 11:06, Mohit Gupta <mohit.gup@gmail.com> wrote:

The Supreme Court has sought a report from all secretaries of labour and
human resource department, Gujranwala commissioner and heads of
environmental protection agencies in this regard within two weeks.

Earlier, two members of Public Lawyers Front (PLF) namely Osama Khawar and
Yahya Farid Khawaja moved the SC under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution,
requesting it to direct the provincial governments to frame rules regulating
occupations involving stone-crushing and the hazardous emission of silica
dust.

The application pointed out that though the deceased labourers made repeated
requests to the factory owners, they were neither provided with any masks to
protect them from silica powder inhalation, nor did the factory owners
install any dust control equipment.

The applicants furnished a list of 18 young labourers, who died in
Gujranwala from silicosis. Among them were nine labourers who were from one
village in Gujranwala. The latest victim of silicosis is Safdar Ali from
Gujranwala who succumbed to the disease three weeks ago. Ali's brother also
died last year from the same disease.

The court was also informed that more than 100 labourers had died from
silicosis in Dera Ghazi Khan and other regions of Punjab in the last few
years - apparently all of them were working in stone crushing factories.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/734988/hazardous-stone-crushing-sc-takes-notice-
of-silicosis-deaths-in-gujranwala/



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Hazardous stone crushing: SC takes notice of silicosis deaths in Gujranwala

The Supreme Court has sought a report from all secretaries of labour and human resource department, Gujranwala commissioner and heads of environmental protection agencies in this regard within two weeks.

Earlier, two members of Public Lawyers Front (PLF) namely Osama Khawar and Yahya Farid Khawaja moved the SC under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, requesting it to direct the provincial governments to frame rules regulating occupations involving stone-crushing and the hazardous emission of silica dust.

The application pointed out that though the deceased labourers made repeated requests to the factory owners, they were neither provided with any masks to protect them from silica powder inhalation, nor did the factory owners install any dust control equipment.

The applicants furnished a list of 18 young labourers, who died in Gujranwala from silicosis. Among them were nine labourers who were from one village in Gujranwala. The latest victim of silicosis is Safdar Ali from Gujranwala who succumbed to the disease three weeks ago. Ali’s brother also died last year from the same disease.

The court was also informed that more than 100 labourers had died from silicosis in Dera Ghazi Khan and other regions of Punjab in the last few years – apparently all of them were working in stone crushing factories.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/734988/hazardous-stone-crushing-sc-takes-notice-of-silicosis-deaths-in-gujranwala/

 

Re: [Anroev: 2091] China sees drop in new pneumoconiosis cases

Thank you Earl for your views. What we all have been doing  here are probably addressing only 1 % of those who  are threatened. If the leaders of my country are showing dream of Bullet trains as they have in Chins and Japan, they should also dream for statistics on Occ.Diseases and injuries.

That we can not see at this moment

Jagdish

On 7 July 2014 19:08, Earl Brown <ebrown@solidaritycenter.org> wrote:

Dear Jadish:  I hope you are well, and it's great to be in touch again.  I would caution on the relative value of bad statistics.   They are not necessarily better than none!  These official PRC statistics must of course be noted and tracked.  But they seriously understand the vast dimensions of the silicosis crisis in China, and reflect an official effort to suppress serious discussion of the problem.  And, I believe based on the important reports emanating from you and Mohit, particularly concerning the progress on compensation in Rajasthan, show that your advocacy is flourishing! Even without statistics.

On Mon, Jul 7, 2014 at 9:07 AM, Jagdish Patel <jagdish.jb@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Earl,

In India we appreciate China only for the reason that they have some data. India, another Asian country comparable to China in size and population- do not have any such data. Unlike China, India has parliamentary democracy and citizens have right of expression and many other rights which Chinese workers do not enjoy. So, capitalists have conquered Indian society- workers have no control what so ever. With this in mind I appreciate Chinese society and Government.

Jagdish

On 7 July 2014 15:08, Earl Brown <ebrown@solidaritycenter.org> wrote:

I doubt both these figures. There must be way more "new" cases, and probably no decline in the overall population suffering severe silicosis. 

Earl Brown

Solidarity Center

ebrown@solidaritycenter.org

---------------

Many Bangladeshi workers labor in unsafe workplaces for poverty wages. Click here to show solidarity with organizers and activists who are under attack as they stand up for worker rights and safety. 

On Jul 7, 2014, at 2:26, "Mohit Gupta" <mohit.gup@gmail.com> wrote:

China recorded 23,152 new pneumoconiosis cases in 2013, a drop of 1,054 from
the previous year, the country's health authority said on Monday.

Pneumoconiosis is a disease of the lungs caused by the inhalation of large
amounts of dust or particulate matter.

Of the new cases, 13,955 were coal workers and 8,095 were silicosis
sufferers, according to figures released by the National Health and Family
Planning Commission.

The pneumoconiosis cases accounted for 87.7 percent of the country's total
new occupational disease cases, which also included 637 acute occupational
poisonings, 904 chronic occupational poisonings and 1,700 others.

Occupational disease cases from the coal, nonferrous metals, machinery and
construction sectors accounted for more than 73 percent of the annual total.

Figures also showed that last year there were 284 acute occupational
poisoning accidents, leaving 637 people poisoned, 25 of them fatally.

According to the commission, the number of institutions offering
occupational health checkups and diagnosis hit 3,437 and 603 respectively in
2013, up 360 and 41 respectively from the previous year



http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2014-07/01/content_17630755.htm



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Jagdish Patel
Peoples Training And Research Centre
43,Srinathdham Duplex,
Dinesh Mill -Urmi Rd
VADODARA-390007
Gujarat, INDIA
Ph: +91- 0265- 2345576 (R)
M-94264 86855
Website: www.peoplestraining.org

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Earl V. Brown Jr
Labor and Employment Law Counsel
China and Law Programs Director
The Solidarity Center
888 16th St. NW
Washington DC 20006
202 494 7920

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Jagdish Patel
Peoples Training And Research Centre
43,Srinathdham Duplex,
Dinesh Mill -Urmi Rd
VADODARA-390007
Gujarat, INDIA
Ph: +91- 0265- 2345576 (R)
M-94264 86855
Website: www.peoplestraining.org

China sees drop in new pneumoconiosis cases

China recorded 23,152 new pneumoconiosis cases in 2013, a drop of 1,054 from the previous year, the country's health authority said on Monday.

Pneumoconiosis is a disease of the lungs caused by the inhalation of large amounts of dust or particulate matter.

Of the new cases, 13,955 were coal workers and 8,095 were silicosis sufferers, according to figures released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The pneumoconiosis cases accounted for 87.7 percent of the country's total new occupational disease cases, which also included 637 acute occupational poisonings, 904 chronic occupational poisonings and 1,700 others.

Occupational disease cases from the coal, nonferrous metals, machinery and construction sectors accounted for more than 73 percent of the annual total.

Figures also showed that last year there were 284 acute occupational poisoning accidents, leaving 637 people poisoned, 25 of them fatally.

According to the commission, the number of institutions offering occupational health checkups and diagnosis hit 3,437 and 603 respectively in 2013, up 360 and 41 respectively from the previous year

 

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2014-07/01/content_17630755.htm

 

All 14 mine workers diagnosed positive of silicosis

JAIPUR: The worst case of silicosis was uncovered when 14 out of 14 mine workers, who had been for a medical examination in Kota, were confirmed positive. The average age of these mine workers is 48 years. The figure is the highest percentage of confirmed cases of silicosis examined by the Pneumoconiosis Board. Sources said these persons will now be provided with monetary relief of Rs 1 lakh by the environmental board.

This is the first time after the amendment in Rajasthan Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Rules, 1965 that the Pneumoconiosis Board gathered in Government Medical College & MBS Hospital, Kota to diagnose occupational diseases. Prior to the constitution of the board most of the workers had been diagnosed for tuberculosis.

Under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923, the state government established Rajasthan Silicosis Rules, 1955. A decade down the line the government came out with Rajasthan Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Rules, 1965 under Section 32 of Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923. Under these new set of rules the scope of the occupational diseases was broadened and pneumoconiosis, which covers silicosis or coal miners pneumoconiosis orasbestosis or any of these diseases accompanied by pulmonary tuberculosis, was mentioned under one of these classes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/All-14-mine-workers-diagnosed-positive-of-silicosis/articleshow/37536023.cms

 

"Safe" Workplace Solvents Affect Brain Aging

People who regularly work with "safe" solvents such as paint or degreasers face an increased risk of thought and memory problems as they age, according to a recent study.

The study, published in the journal Neurology on May 13, details how researchers determined that individuals who work in construction or utilities face heightened risk of advanced cognitive decline as they age. They associated this decline with regular exposure to regulated solvents such as benzene, chlorine, and petroleum.

According to the study, researchers interviewed and assessed the cognitive capabilities of 2,143 retirees from the French national utility company Electricite de France/Gaz de France.

Through questionnaires and interviews, the researchers measured each participant's past exposure to benzene, found in dyes, detergent, rubber and plastic; chlorinated solvents, found in dry cleaning products, paint removers, degreasers, and engine cleaners; and petroleum solvents, used in varnish, paint thinner, paint, and carpet glue.

The retirees were followed from retirement until they reached the age of about 66, when they were asked to take a series of tests in a follow-up assessment of their cognitive abilities. They found that in an average of 10 years after retirement, 59 percent of the participants faced minor to moderate cognitive impairment and 23 percent of the participants showed heavy impairment - scoring poorly on four or more tests out of eight total.

Predictably, the researchers were able to determine that the workers who had more frequent and recent exposure to harmful solvents prior to retiring were significantly more likely to develop cognitive impairment. Chlorinated solvents proved the worst in this regard, making those frequently exposed to it 65 percent more likely to have impaired memory, visual attention, and fluid thinking, compared to workers not exposed to the solvents.

It should be noted that while the aforementioned chemicals are highly controlled products in most countries, only immediate ramifications are often considered when discussing workplace safety precautions. The authors of the study write that it is their hope that statistics like these can change that.

Protecting worker health, they write, will not only protect their brains as they age, but will also reduce health-care costs and allow workers to work past the current average retirement age.

 

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/7024/20140513/safe-workplace-solvents-affect-brain-aging.htm