SHIPBREAKING. Shipbreaking is the complex process of dismantling. disposal and involves many environmental, safety,

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1 INDIAN TRADE UNION EXPERIENCE ON ASBESTOS By V V Rane Secretary Mumbai Port Trust Dock & General Employees Union General Secretary Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling & General Workers Association

2 2 SHIPBREAKING Shipbreaking is the complex process of dismantling an obsolete vessel s s structure for scrapping or disposal and involves many environmental, safety, and health issues. Conducted at a beach, pier, dry dock or dismantling slip, it includes a wide range of activities, from removing all the gear and equipment, to the cutting down and recycling the ship s infrastructure.

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4 4 ASBESTOS Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelima, and asbestosis.

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6 6 ASBESTOS ON SHIPS Asbestos has been commonly used for shipbuilding as it is widely known to contain desirable properties such as heat and fire resistance. These properties, coupled with the material s relative low cost meant that the product was used extensively in the construction of ships. This has to be eradicated or encapsulated to ensure the safety of those both on board and at shipping yards.

7 7 SHIPBREAKING WORKERS FACING ASBESTOS PROBLEMS As the ships contains large amount of asbestos the workers engaged gg in shipbreaking activities are direct victims of the use of the asbestos. The shipbreaking workers suffer illness on account of asbestos like malignant lung cancer, mesothelima, and asbestosis. This is one of the reason for diverting shipbreaking work from developed countries to developing and under developed countries where the workers prefer to work under any conditions for survival and where the enforcement authorities and the Government is not so serious about the workers rights as well as the human

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9 9 ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS IN INDIA The use of asbestos in ships has been posing threat to the health, safety and welfare of the shipbreaking workers. The issue regarding health, safety, welfare and environment in the shipbreaking yards has been taken up in India by ASSRGWA and MPTDGEU, which have been organizing the shipbreaking workers and undertaking various activities iti for the protection of workers rights. These trade unions in India have been creating awarenessareness among the stakeholders of the industry, organizing training camps, workshops and seminars and also representing before various authorities for protection of health, safety, welfare & environment.

10 10 ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS IN INDIA These unions also have been organizing the medical camps for medical examinations of shipbreaking workers and members of their families and to help the victims of asbestos and other occupational diseases for necessary treatment as far as possible. These unions represented before the Supreme Court These unions represented before the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee and suggested various ways and means to prevent occupational diseases including the perils of asbestos.

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12 12 DIRECTIONS FROM SUPREME COURT OF INDIA The Supreme Court of India considering i all aspects in the shipbreaking activities has given very meaningful directions to the Government of India and other stakeholders of the shipbreaking id industry in its decision i dtd6 dated th September 2007 in Research Foundation for Science Vs Union of India and Anr (Writ Petition (C) 657 of 1995). The implementation of these directions may reduce the evil effects of asbestos. Supreme Court of India has given directions in the matter of process for anchoring, beaching and breaking the ships.

13 13 DIRECTIONS FROM SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Supreme Court of India has given specific directions in the following matters : 1. Recycling facility management plan including asbestos handling, removing and storage facility 2. Ship Recycling facility plan 3. Safety compliances 4. Permission for cutting the materials 5. Training for the labour 6. Use of personnel protective equipments 7. Environmental compliances 8. Creation/enhancement of facilities for removal, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and hazardous waste 9. Environmental measures and house keeping 10. Solid waste management 11. Housekeeping 12. Health Compliance 13. Action by the Maritime Boards and Port Authorities

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15 15 COMPLIANCE C OF SUPREME COURT DIRECTIONS The Supreme Court of India has directed d to regularly l monitor the asbestos fiber concentrations. In pursuance of the Supreme Court directions, the Ministry of Steel of the Government of India has been preparing Code on Regulations for Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling in coordination with stakeholders of the industry. In view of the directions of the Supreme Court the unions have been also pressing before the port authorities for compliance of the directions. The unions have given the comprehensive checklist to the port authorities.

16 16 COMPLIANCE OF SUPREME COURT DIRECTIONS The unions have been requesting the Government of India for giving representations to the unions in various bodies including Maritime Boards so that the issues connected with the health, safety and welfare of the shipbreaking workers would be properly p resolved in the interest of welfare of the society. The Gujarat Maritime Board has been conducting training courses on handling and storing of hazardous materials in the shipbreaking yards. This would reduce the accidents and occupational diseases. The management of Mumbai Port Trust laid down the strict conditions on the employers and contractors who undertake shipbreaking activities iti in respect of safetyof f theworkers. This Code on Regulations for Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling also has taken a serious note of the dangerous asbestos and the regulations are being made to prevent the use of asbestos and to prevent from the evil effects of asbestos.

17 Darukhana,Shipbreaking Yard, Mumbai 17

18 THE ROLE OF THE UNIONS AND SHIPBREAKING WORKERS These unions which are very much concerned with the health, safety and welfare of the workers have been organizing ii awareness programs, medical camps and training on first aid. The shipbreaking workers who have been participating the awareness programs are made aware of the existence of asbestos in the ships, adverse effects of the asbestos, precautions to be taken while handling asbestos material, etc. The unions have been pressing the need for upgradation of the shipbreaking yards inorder tominimize i i the accidentsand d occupational diseases. The unions and shipbreaking workers have been raising their voice and inviting attention of the government authorities for protection of the workers rights. Most importantly, MPTDGEU has recently produced and released a Documentary/short film on service and working conditions of the shipbreaking workers in India, titled as In to the Graveyard. This documentary has become an eye opener to all. It has been widely circulated and acclaimed. 18

19 19 CONCLUSION There is utmost need to built up pressure on government authorities and other stakeholders of the shipbreaking industry to take urgent steps to prevent unsafe unhygienic & polluted working conditions in the shipbreaking yards. There is also need to built up pressure on the enforcement authorities so that the provisions of the existing laws on health, safety, welfare & environment are strictly enforced. Supreme Court of India has played a very vital role by giving due attention to the problems and issuing very comprehebsivre directions, We expect that there should be effective coordination among all the organizations striving for welfare of the society. There is an urgent need for comprehensive law on the subject that will be binding to all the stakeholders and would provide stern action and punishment to the offenders to the norms on health, safety, welfare & environment. LET US WORK TOGATHER TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS MANACE OF ASBESTOS.

20 20 THANK YOU