“Use of dangerous chemicals without any protection has become very common in Bangladesh. Every year hundreds of people die but no one seems to care,” said Repon Chowdhury, executive director of OSHE.
Health problems are rife among workers engaged in Bangladesh's numerous chemical industries. Here, drums used to transport dangerous, inflammable chemicals are pushed through Old Dhaka (Photo by Stephen Uttom)
About 85 percent of farmers in largely agricultural Bangladesh use poisonous chemicals and pesticides, and 30 percent suffer from chronic health problems, said the report which was released in Dhaka last week.
Since 1996, more than one thousand workers have died while thousands more fell sick and were injured due to unregulated chemical use in the ship-breaking industry located near southeastern port city of Chittagong, it added.
Tannery workers, said the report, face the most risks of all. In that sector, workers suffer extremely high rates of chronic skin diseases, respiratory illnesses and gastric problems.
“Through inhaling and exhaling, absorption and food consumption, chemical poisons enter the human body and they can cause skin diseases and immensely damage the heart, reproductive and respiratory organs,” said Dr A Masood Chaudhury, chairman of the Dermatology and Venereology Department at Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka.
“This is a serious public health issue and the government needs to be very strict in enforcing health and safety regulations in every industry that uses chemicals which are dangerous to human health,” he added.
Activists say the problem is exacerbated because owners and the government rarely if ever take responsibility for the deaths and illness caused by industrial chemical use.
“I(author) have worked in the industry for forty years and I have seen workers dying and getting injured in accidents like acid explosions and acid burning the body. In no case is an employer held responsible and they don’t compensate workers,” said Nasir Hossain, 59, secretary of the Bangladesh Chemical and Perfume Workers Union.
Hossain,a labor of chemical industry said he has suffered several accidents including acid burns on his hands, but has never received any compensation.
“Each time I have been blamed for being negligent and once the employer cut my salary to pay for my treatment.”
Hazardous and inflammable chemicals are not only posing dangers to workers’ health but also to the lives of tens of thousands of Old Dhaka residents.
In 2000, a chemical warehouse exploded and a huge fire engulfed several adjacent residential buildings in the Nimtoli area of Old Dhaka. More than 120 people were killed and hundreds injured.
The fire provoked an unprecedented media and public outcry, prompting the government to order the industry to move to a Dhaka suburb called Keraniganj. However, the order has not been enforced.
Owners insist they are concerned about the safety of workers and environmental issues, but many downplay the hazards.
0 comments:
Post a Comment