Workers in cement industry work in dusty environment and accident prone work-places, which poses health and safety hazards. Narendra Singh, Executive Director, Mehta Group dwells on the types of hazards and the preventive measures to be adopted.Occupational HealthEven in the 21st century, millions of people are working daily in a dusty environment. They are exposed to different types of health hazards such as fume, gases and dust, which are risk factors in developing occupational disease. Cement industry is involved in the development of structure of this advanced and modern world but generates dust during its production. Cement dust affects lungs, stomach and colon. Other studies have shown that cement dust may enter into the systemic circulation and thereby reach all the organs of body and affects the different tissues including heart, liver, spleen, bone, muscles and hairs and ultimately affecting their micro-structure and physiological performance.The main causes of occupational ill health are:- ??Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) ??Skin disease, e.g. dermatitis ??Respiratory disease, e.g. occupational asthmaOccupational Safety
Generally in cement plants, the main causes of accident/ injury are found with reasons due to:-??Injured while handling, lifting or carrying ??Slipped, tripped or fell on the same level and/or falling from height??Hit by moving, flying or falling objectOccupational health and safety measuresSaurashtra Cement (SCL) provides free medical consultation in OPD base and round-the-clock medicinal disbursement with emergency management at Health Center to all employees, their dependants and nearby area residents with free ambulance provision to all.SCL has a blast-free mining technology by using surface miners for mining of raw material. There is installation of fire safety system with periodic maintenance. SCL is fully prepared with onsite emergency plan and DMP with supportive emergency health and medicare services. For safe work and system implementation, SCL is having a "Hazard identification plan" for storage and material handling as well as complete process activity also audited by team periodically. SCL has implemented a process of OH&S quarterly audit carried out by a team of senior staff, and a review system on compliance status of audit findings.