A few days ago, Wang Zhongyuan, a tuberculosis expert, went to Shuifu County in Yunnan to look at 77 “migrant workers” for returning rural migrant workers, reminding workers to strengthen their self-protection.
Professor Wang Zhongyuan, the All Armed Forces Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital of the PLA General Hospital (formerly known as the 309 Hospital), complained that 77 returning rural migrant workers in the county of Shuifu County of Yunnan Province suffered from a strange disease. He believes that the lungs are the most important respiratory organs of the human body, and they are non-renewable. As the main economic pillars of ordinary laborers and families, peasant workers’ brothers will directly affect health in the event of pneumoconiosis, resulting in a decline or even total loss of labor ability, and serious life-threatening. When engaged in related labor activities, they should strengthen their self-protection awareness and reduce the prevalence of pneumoconiosis.
Pneumoconiosis includes asbestos lung, electrician pneumoconiosis, caster pneumoconiosis, pneumoconiosis miller, pneumoconiosis, coal worker pneumoconiosis, etc., mainly from a variety of types of ore mining, stone processing, asbestos processing, electric welding operations, ceramic production, forging, turning sand, metal processing and other types of work. The work surface is caused by inhalation of various dusts. Among them, the occurrence of silicosis caused by quartz stone processing and exploitation is the fastest and the most serious condition. The “strange disease” of Yunnan Shuifu County group is a strong confirmation.
Prof. Wang reminded that when signing a labor contract, laborers should be the first choice for employers with labor protection ability. Do not go to the “three-to-none” enterprises to do the work. During the working period, they should also undergo regular medical examinations to prepare for occupational diseases according to relevant laws and regulations. Regulations enjoy the corresponding treatment. In the work, respiratory protection should be strengthened, such as wearing a mask. Employment units should also strengthen the transformation of technical equipment, improve the dust removal device, reduce the labor intensity of workers, the work surface for wet dust treatment, in order to reduce the concentration of dust in the air. Reducing the labor time of workers can also effectively reduce the incidence. If the state expressly stipulates that electric welders work for no more than 6 hours a day, strict enforcement will greatly reduce the incidence of electricians’ pneumoconiosis.
Professor Wang said that pneumoconiosis had been high in the year of the Great Leap Forward, and Premier Zhou had written for this purpose: “Strengthening the protection of workers.” It played an important role in the dramatic decline in the incidence of pneumoconiosis in the 1960s. Regarding the handling of the "water-rich incident," General Secretary Hu and Premier Wen also made important instructions. Employment units and regulatory agencies should strengthen labor protection to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers from infringement. There is no cure for silicosis and it is easy to develop pulmonary tuberculosis after illness. Therefore, attention should be paid to prevention.
It is worth mentioning that wind, sand, dust, etc., do not cause pneumoconiosis. Micron-sized fine dust is the culprit of pneumoconiosis.

China Labor Insurance Network