
A non-profit organization registered in the US, dedicated to providing catalytic and strategic support for the environment, safety, and health in Nepal
A non-profit organization registered in the US, dedicated to providing catalytic and strategic support for the environment, safety, and health in Nepal
A non-profit organization registered in the US, dedicated to providing catalytic and strategic support for the environment, safety, and health in Nepal
A non-profit organization registered in the US, dedicated to providing catalytic and strategic support for the environment, safety, and health in Nepal
Cement dust contains crystalline silica, which is a known human lung carcinogen, and exposure to high levels of cement dust can cause respiratory problems. Many of the cement factory workers are known to suffer from lifelong health conditions from dust exposure in cement industries. The factors workers often are not fully aware of the factory policies and measures toward minimizing potential harms.
In Nepal, the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for cement dust is 10 milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3), as specified by the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health under the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. Despite the specified standard, there is a lack of awareness among workers and employees about the potential health risks associated with exposure to cement dust, and many workers and employees may not take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others. Furthermore, there is a lack of monitoring, enforcement and data on the levels of cement dust exposure in the workplace. At present, there are ~165 cement factories of varying sizes in different locations in the county. Approximately 20 million tons of cement are produced annually. Little is known about the level of dust exposure in the factories, compliance with the standards, the health of the factory workers or their awareness and knowledge of the policies and programs towards minimizing potential harms from the cement dust.
StepupNepal has identified cement dust exposure hazard reduction (DEHR) as one of the priority areas for support and assistance. Yogesh Koirala, PhD (Chemical Engineering), will be the lead technical professional representing StepupNepal’s Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) group.
The project is currently under development. Interested professionals and organizations are welcome to contact Dr. Koirala for further details and explore potential ways in which organizations or individual professionals could be involved in the development and implementation of the project in Nepal. You may contact him at <president@stepupnepal.org>.
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