Occupational Safety Problems in Bangladesh Ship breaking Industry - a case study

Abstract

Ship breaking is one of the most hazardous and dangerous occupation. Grave concern about the occupational safety and health problems caused by ship dismantling has been widely reported . Whilst many press articles have appeared globally, little hard evidence of the incident reports has been discussed. In this research, it is tried to explore the occupational safety problems that exists in Ship breaking sector in Bangladesh. It also investigated the possible hazardous and dangerous materials available in the old ships and tried to find out the main causes and agents responsible for accidents [1]. Keeping this view in mind, the data for this project thesis were collected from the yards as primary data through a prescribed questionnaire. Two sets of questionnaires were prepared. one for the workers and other for the yard managers/management staffs. 16 yards were taken into consideration for data collection. The interviewees (workers) were selected on random sampling basis after stratified into 10 different clusters of workers. 160 numbers of workers from 16 yards and 15 Managers from 15 yards were interviewed (Chapter-3). The different categories of workers were regrouped in to four categories for the study purpose, such as High-skilled, Skilled, Semi-skilled and Un-skilled. 20% Fligh-skilled, 11% Skilled, 34% Semi-skilled and 48% Un-skilled workers were selected as sample to reflect the staffing pattern and total number of workers in the yards. It is found that about 75% of the workers are illiterate or have education below primary; just they can sign their name only. But most of the managers are educated and amongst about 60% have graduation or above degree. About 98% of the workers experienced with accident during their work at the ship-breaking/recycling yards. Out of 160 respondents only fatal accident reported by 38% while 59% observed only minor accidents. Most vulnerable age group is 20-24 faced most of the accidents of about 29%. Some workers (2%) do not have any experiences about the accidents during working in the ship yards as they were very new corner in this job. According to the data it is found that hand and legs are the mostly affected body parts compared to others and are carrying cumulative weight of about 59% of total accidents. About 74% workers know that the ship dismantling are dangerous. Both the workers and managers identified that the Gas (including toxic and cornbustible)is the most hazardous substances available in the old ships and hot work is the most vital agent lot causing accident. Personal negligence, lack of work experience, not to use of PPE. absence of good working environment, over confidence and finally excessive work loads were also identified unanimously by workers as causes of accident. Most of' the managers also support these causes along with others. To prevent the accident 31% suggested to use PPE followed by 27% suggested for raising awareness on occupational safety and health and 25% recommended for providing training, and 8% do not have any idea about how to prevent accident. As far as knowledge of rules and regulations is concerned about 70% workers heard about the Factory Act, 1965 but most of them do not have any idea about the provisions of' that Acts and other related rules/regulations applicable to ship breaking sector. On the other hand. workers did not know anything about the new Labour Act. 2006. But all the managers knew about the Factory Act. 1965 while only 46% of them knew about the Labour Act, 2006. Out 01 15 managers. only one manager boldly responded that they follow the new Labour Act, 2006 and rest of them said they were trying to follow the Act, ules/regulations to some extent. Moreover, the government departments responsible for the looking after the workers' right and OSH issue along with the working environment of' the factory and surroundings were not active at all. According to managers opinion week monitoring mechanism and less enforcement by the government hindered the proper implementation of the rules. All the yard managers unanimously was agreed upon that a separate set of rules for the ship breaking sector in Bangladesh and separate wage for the workers are required for the betterment of this sector. The long outstanding demand of BSBA for the declaration of ship breaking sector as industry also came up from the views of yard managers. At last, some recommendations are made for the betterment of' this sector as a whole.