The silent killer known as silicosis is striking countless workers within mines, construction, and factories throughout India. This incurable, yet entirely preventable, occupational disease occurs from chronic exposure to dust.
Understanding Silicosis and Its Causes
Silicosis is a progressive lung disease that most frequently affects laborers in the manufacturing, quarrying, and construction sectors. The disease results from sustained inhalation of silica – a crystal-like mineral abundant in sand, rock, and quartz.
Symptoms of the disease appear after long term exposure and are characterized by cough, fever, shortness of breath, and bluish skin. Despite its odorless and non-irritant nature, inhaling large quantities of free silica can lead to severe health conditions including pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, and pulmonary tuberculosis among others.
Diagnosing silicosis is a complicated process. The disease is hard to identify due to similarities with tuberculosis – the nodules forming a mass in the chest can take up to 20 years to appear in x-rays.
Prevalence of Silicosis in India
In India, silicosis plagues several key regions including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Pondicherry, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, and West Bengal. Predominantly rampaging the mining and construction workers, the disease breeds silently under the nose of medical professionals.
Government Actions Against Silicosis
The Indian Government has addressed the silicosis scourge through multiple legislative protections and proactive steps.
The Mines Act (1952) and the Factories Act (1948) both list silicosis as a notified disease. The Factory Act mandates reduced overcrowding, an adequately ventilated working environment, protection from dust, and provision of essential occupational health care.
Additionally, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment hosts a “silicosis portal” for worker self-registration and diagnosis through district-level pneumoconiosis boards. As per the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Condition Code 2020 (OSHWC), all employers must annually conduct health checks at no cost.
Challenges in Fighting Silicosis
Despite these measures, obstacles still exist. The mining sector reports low rates of silicosis notification, often misdiagnosing it as tuberculosis.
The OSHWC Code does not require mine owners to provide rehabilitation or compensation for workers deemed medically unfit due to silicosis. Meanwhile, standing funds for worker compensation from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) remain widely underutilized and mismanaged.
Developing a Solution: The Way Forward
Moving forward, several measures can be implemented. Rajasthan’s model, wherein the state announced the disease as an ‘epidemic’ and introduced a formal Pneumoconiosis Policy, can serve as a template for other mineral producing states.
Safe execution of OSHWC entails providing health checks to all establishment workers, regardless of age. Subsidizing or freely offering dust-suppressant and wet-drilling mechanisms to mine owners would incentivize local manufacturers to innovate and develop low-cost solutions.
Through comprehensive understanding, protective measures, effective legislation, and innovative solutions, India can confront the specter of silicosis, providing its labor force with the safety they deserve.