Assessing the Livelihood and Occupational Health Hazard of the Ship-building Industry Workers: A Case Study in Khulna Dockyard

As one of the heavy production industries, shipbuilding carries a higher risk of livelihood and occupational health due to the materials, machinery, actions, procedures, and conditions involved. Hazardous wastes and other hazards linked to shipbuilding might have a detrimental impact on socio-ecological processes and biological diversity. The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate workplace hazards in the shipbuilding industry considering the Khulna dockyard as a case study. Khulna dockyard, located in Bangladesh, is considered as a heavy ship construction and repair yard.  It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from individual interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with qualitative insights gained through participatory rural assessment (PRA) tools. The findings revealed critical shortcomings in worker livelihoods and well-being. Workers lack essential amenities and are exposed to occupational hazards due to unsafe working conditions. Over 60% reported experiencing injuries or health problems such as blurred vision, abdominal pain, skin issues, fever, and heart problems. Additionally, 87% face excessive noise pollution during work hours. These findings highlight the precarious situation of workers, further exacerbated by labor-intensive and unstable work, limited healthcare access, inadequate housing and sanitation, and a lack of basic safety measures. Furthermore, the industry's growth has been accompanied by social discontent, violence, and concerning occupational health and safety issues. Therefore, the study proposes crucial interventions to improve workers' livelihoods and ensure the industry's responsible growth with sustainable management options. These include enhanced protective equipment, improved medical facilities, effective management practices, and the creation of a safe working environment.

Keywords: Occupational health hazards, Livelihood index, Safety issue, Dockyard, Khulna

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