(a)whether several occupation related diseases in the work places including factories and mines have come to notice of the Government;
(b)if so, the details of such diseases detected during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise including Haryana;
(c)whether the Government proposes to take any fresh steps to ensure regular safety audits/health check-up of such workers and miners in the country; and
(d)if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 107 FOR ANSWER ON 24/07/2017 REGARDING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES BY SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK.
(a) & (b): The Government of India has enacted the Factories Act, 1948 for ensuring safety, health and welfare of workers employed in factories registered under the Act. The Act provides for the notification of certain occupational diseases as listed under the Third Schedule of the Act, to the concerned authorities i.e. Factory Inspectorate of the State Government. 29 notifiable diseases are listed under the Third schedule of the Act which are reportable as under Section 89 of the Act.
The Mines Act, 1952 ensures Safety, Health and Welfare of persons employed in Mines and it provides for notifying occupational diseases. Eight diseases have been notified under sub-section (1) of Section 25 of the Act.
The details of Occupational Diseases detected under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Mines Act, 1952 as sent by Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) and Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under Ministry of Labour & Employment, State/UT-wise, including Haryana, during last three years is enclosed at Annexure –I and Annexure –IA respectively.
(c) & (d): Adequate provisions exist to ensure the safety and health of mine workers under the Mines Act, 1952 and factory workers under the Factories Act, 1948 and Rules/Regulations made thereunder. The Factories Act, 1948 and State Factories Rules are enforced by the respective State Governments/UTs. For the workers employed in hazardous processes and dangerous operations as defined under the Factories Act, 1948, pre and post periodical health check-up in the form of medical examination are mandatory requirements. Further, occupational safety and health survey in silicosis prone industries under section 91A of the Factories Act, 1948 has been initiated and completed in the seven States/UTs namely Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Puducherry.
Contd..2/-
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The Mines Act, 1952 and rules and regulations made thereunder are enforced by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). The mine management conducts regular health check-up of the persons employed in the mine under the Mines Act, 1952. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under Ministry of Labour & Employment has also initiated a special drive to conduct occupational health survey. Following statutory provisions have been made under the Mines Act, 1952 and Rules & Regulations framed thereunder to check and prevent occupational diseases in mines:-
(i) Initial Medical Examination before employment and Periodical Medical Examinations of persons employed in mines at an interval of 5 years as per the provisions of Rule 29(B) as per standard specified in Rule 29(F) of Mines Rules, 1955. (In case of persons employed in Asbestos Mines intervals of Periodical Medical Examination is 3 years).
(ii) Engineering control measures on prevention and generation of air-borne dust at workplace are also made under the Regulation 123 of Coal Mines Regulation, 1957 and the Regulation 124 of Metalliferous Mines Regulation, 1961.
The mine managements are required to comply with the above provisions in their mines. The compliance of such provisions are checked by the officers of the DGMS during the inspection/enquiry. Based on the findings of the inspection/enquiry action as provided under the law is taken.
Occupational Health survey was carried out in various States in the year 2017 by DGMS with the help of State Governments. The details of the same are enclosed as Annexure II.
The service of an expert agency i.e. National Institute of Miner’s Health (NIMH), Nagpur (an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Mines) was taken to study the dust related disease in stone mine. NIMH has carried out Occupational Health Survey and identified 96 cases of Silicosis/suspected Silicosis in the state of Rajasthan.
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