"In my youthful days I worked at cost to my health giving little consideration to safety measures. Now, I am repenting at bed unable to work," 50 yerars old BK said. "My lungs were affected by cement particles because I used to work without wearing mask," he added.[break]
Not only BK, most of the laborers working at construction sites face similar health hazards due to their weak financial status and lack of awareness on health and hygiene.
Pabitra Kisan, 28, of Baglung Municipality-3, who works at building construction sites, has been suffering from cough for a long time. "My chest also aches while working in smokey and dusty conditions," she added.
As the construction workers do not wear mask at work, they breathe in the dust and sand particles, which affects the respiratory system and cause lung problems. Working with cement with bare hands and body cause skin allergies.
The workers also complained that they are not provided with the safety kits at the workplace. "We also don´t have insurance cover in case of workplace accident," said Kanta Ram Lama, who was found laying concrete mix on a roof of an under construction building. Lama has been suffering from back ache for a long time.
Doctors says that most of the construction workers have been found suffering from eye and skin problems as well as respiratory aliments including Pneumonia, Bronchitis and fibrosis among others. Dr Surya Bahadur Hamal, Consultant Physician at Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital (DZH), said cement and dust particles if inhaled or ingested cause infection in the cells.
"Working without mask, the workers unknowingly inhale bacteria along with carbon and other dust particles which affect the lungs," said Hamal. He also informed that most of the construction workers are suffering from chronic lung disease while some are suffering from cancer due to prolonged exposure to carbon, cement and sand particles for a long time.
According to Dr Tarun Poudel, Medical Superintendent at DZH, even small ailments becomes chronic and great health hazard later as the laborers neglect the problem in the beginning due to the lack of awareness. "Most of the laborers do not seek treatment for minor injuries or health problems. Although they are engaged in hard labour daily, they cannot afford nutritious food. Lack of nutrition also brings health problems," said Poudel. He also suggested that periodic health checkup system should be developed for construction workers.
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