Course:SPPH381B/Essay 3/Hazards and Controls in the Shipbreaking Industry of Bangladesh - Michael

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Hazards and Controls in the Shipbreaking Industry of Bangladesh

Ship Breaking, Chittagong Bangladesh

The shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh is notorious for its dangerous working conditions. The process of dismantling a ship is complex and dangerous, even when done carefully. Unfortunately, the market forces of the world have created a situation where the industry is only profitable in developing countries, specifically because of their lack of protections for workers and the environment. This creates a uniquely challenging problem with no easy answers.

Hazards

Beaching

To start the shipbreaking process, the ship is driven at high speed onto the beach during low tide. Even with experienced captains, this obviously poses a significant risk to both workers on board the ship and workers on the beach. Sometimes beaching is unsuccessful and it is attempted again. Once successful, the anchor is dropped. Even after beaching has been completed, there is no guarantee that the ship is stable. Tipping or movement of the ship is a concern as well.[1]

Toxic materials

Many components of the ships are toxic, especially in older vessels. These toxic materials include asbestos, lead, and heavy metals. The materials are usually left on the beach or sometimes even burnt. Cancer and diseases caused by these toxins happen regularly in the industry.[2]

Welding and explosions

Inexperienced and untrained workers are given the task of cutting the steel of the ship using oxy-acetylene torches. There are no plans to guide their cuts. When pieces of the hull are cut loose, workers are at risk of being mutilated by the falling metal. Frequently, workers cut into pieces of the ship containing flammable liquids, causing an explosion.[3]

Hard physical labour

People in the shipbreaking industry work long hours, with minimal personal protective equipment. Most workers do not even have shoes or gloves. Their work usually involves lifting extremely heavy materials such as cable or steel plates. Because of these conditions, workers are at risk of cuts, infections, falling, being crushed by parts of the ship, or strain from repetitive body movements.[4] Cables also pose a significant danger. The cables are heavy and workers must carry them across the beach, usually barefoot. Additionally, when in use, the cables are at risk of snapping and can cause significant damage to the workers.

Contributing factors

There are situations and forces specific to the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh that contribute to the significant hazards the workers face.

Socioeconomic pressures

Many workers in Bangladesh are from poverty stricken areas. They do not have many economic opportunities outside of shipbreaking. As a result, people employed in the shipbreaking industry rarely have an employment contract. Because of the lack of opportunities, workers are desperate and labour is cheap. Finding new labourers is relatively easy. These factors, a result of the socioeconomic pressures in Bangladesh, create a situation where workers' safety is not a priority.[5]

Young workers

40.75% of workers in Bangladesh shipbreaking yards were found to be between the ages of 18-22. Child labour (people under 18 years of age) accounted for 10.94% of workers. A majority of these young workers were illiterate and had not completed their primary education.[6]

Ineffective government

There are few regulations to protect workers' safety in Bangladesh. This results in poor working conditions in the shipbreaking industry. Employers put little thought into the safety of their labour force. If a worker is injured or killed, another can be hired to replace them. Similarly, there are few environmental protections. Toxic chemicals, materials, and scraps can be left on the beach without a fine. As workers usually walk barefoot, these materials pose a serious risk.

There have been movements to attempt to create protections for workers in the industry, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. In 2010, there was a ban on shipbreaking. The ban was lifted after 18 months.[7] This is, at least in part, because the government of Bangladesh receives a significant amount of tax revenue through the shipbreaking industry.[8]

Steel supply and demand

The shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh supplied approximately 51% of the demand for raw steel and 37% of the demand for finished steel products in 2010. Almost all of the steel produced by the industry is used within the country. During the temporary shipbreaking ban in 2010, imports of steel increased significantly as did steel prices.[9] These market forces make it difficult for regulations or bans on the industry to be put in place.

Possible controls

Systematic deconstruction

Deconstructing the ships in a carefully planned-out and systemic way could significantly reduce all types of hazards. OSHA has compiled a list of recommended steps for shipbreaking.[10] First, conduct a vessel survey. Identify and sample all hazardous materials. Next remove fuels, oils, other liquids and combustible materials. This will prevent exposure to toxins and explosions when torches are being used. Then remove all equipment, asbestos, and PCBs. Paint should be removed from metal before cutting occurs. During the cutting phase, work from the top deck towards the bottom deck. Finally, recycle or dispose of materials.

Implementing all of these steps may be challenging in a developing country, primarily because the industries in these countries have very small profit margins. Companies may also not have the equipment necessary to test and identify hazardous materials, or the knowledge necessary to cut the metal safely.

Administrative oversight

It is recommended that all operations are overseen by administrative workers. These workers should ensure other workers are located outside of danger (for example, of falling pieces of ship).

All people working in the shipbreaking industry should also undergo training so they understand the hazards of their work and how best to avoid them.[11]

Personal protective equipment

Because the shipbreaking industry is such a dangerous environment for workers, we will never be able to eliminate or remove all hazards. Therefore, workers should be outfitted with proper personal protective equipment. This includes boots, gloves, and hard hats. People using oxy-acetylene torches should use welding masks. Any workers working around toxic materials should use face maks. There should also be a PPE program to ensure the equipment is being used properly.[12]

References

  1. DASGUPTA, SOUMYAJIT (1 May 2013). "How Ship Dismantling is Done?". www.marineinsight.com. MarineInsight. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  2. AMRC: Asbestos in the Ship-breaking industry of Bangladesh: Action for Ban
  3. Vidal, John (5 May 2012). Bangladeshi workers risk lives in shipbreaking yards. The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  4. https://www.klp.no/polopoly_fs/1.34213.1467019894!/menu/standard/file/Shipbreaking%20report%20mai%202016.pdf. Retrieved March 30, 2017
  5. "Overview of Ship breaking in Bangladesh". Young Power in Social Action.
  6. "Overview of Ship breaking in Bangladesh". Young Power in Social Action.
  7. Sujauddin, M., Koide, R., Komatsu, T., Hossain, M. M., Tokoro, C. and Murakami, S. (2017), Ship Breaking and the Steel Industry in Bangladesh: A Material Flow Perspective. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21: 191–203. doi:10.1111/jiec.12423
  8. http://www.academia.edu/6245556/Shipbreaking_Industries_of_Bangladesh_An_Overview_and_Legal_Implication. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  9. Sujauddin, M., Koide, R., Komatsu, T., Hossain, M. M., Tokoro, C. and Murakami, S. (2017), Ship Breaking and the Steel Industry in Bangladesh: A Material Flow Perspective. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21: 191–203. doi:10.1111/jiec.12423
  10. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3375shipbreaking.pdf. Retrieved March 30, 2017
  11. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3375shipbreaking.pdf. Retrieved March 30, 2017
  12. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3375shipbreaking.pdf. Retrieved March 30, 2017