Analysing the occupational health of workers in the brick kilns of Rajasthan

Abstract

Brick is a widely used construction material in low-middle-income-countries like India. India is the second largest producer of clay bricks in the world with 1.40 lac brick kilns producing around 250 billion bricks per year. Clay brick kiln workers work in adverse working conditions having poor working postures with substantial loadings and traditionally designed hand tools, which results in occupational health problems. Owing to lack of proper training and personal protection equipment, the brick kilns have a potential of causing adverse effects on the workers. In India, mainly the traditional fixed chimney Bull's trench kilns having higher emissions are used as this type of kilns costs about 40% lesser than other types employing cleaner technologies. This paper presents an analysis on occupational health of brick kiln workers in Rajasthan. The results show that 79.23% workers were found suffering with musculoskeletal disorders in shoulders, wrists and lower back regions. Various other respiratory and skin diseases were also found in significant number of workers.