BYU professor Dr. Steve Thygerson has helped lead a multinational research project on studying the health effects that the Nepalese brick kilns are causing.
Dr. Steve Thygerson, in 2013, was interested in getting involved with the BYU Kennedy Center programs after connecting with doctors in Nepal through the organization Workplace Without Borders. Dr. Thygerson met incredible individuals such as Dr. Sanjay Khanal, who brought on Thygerson to help mentor Ph.D. student Seshananda Sanjel.
His presented work proposed to research the air and effects that the Nepalese brick kilns were having on locals. Dr. Thygerson helped with showing air sampling methodologies and providing sampling equipment to help him begin working on this research project.
As the project grew, more universities such as Johns Hopkins became involved. It brought on universities from abroad and inside Nepal to all work together on improving the health and lives of the Nepalese people.
The ultimate goal of this over decade-long research project is a simple one, to protect local workers, their families, and the communities they live in.
The introduction of this research was heavily in collaboration with the Nepalese government along with researchers and scientists from universities in Nepal working year-round. Dr. Thygerson explained, “We have a team of about 25 local field researcher team members.”
These team members have been crucial in collecting data over the last 12 years and helping with conducting the valuable research that has been implemented in Nepal. They also serve as a bridge between the local Nepalese people and the brick kiln research team as they approached conducting this research.
With the research provided, the team was able to see that the Nepal brick kilns could lead to negative health conditions that could drastically shorten the lives of workers. One of the largest issues that can be developed is irreversible lung disease silicosis.
Thygerson and his team found evidence of brick kilns being incredibly hazardous for workers, when brick kilns have been a staple of economic life for many Nepalese people, being a job that has been done for generations. Necessary change to a staple of life was a challenge that Thygerson and his team had to convey.
Brick kilns have been a way of life and a way of business for Nepalese people for hundreds of years. It is a way the community and individuals can financially support their livelihood. Asking individuals to simply not work at these kilns anymore could lead to financial ruin for some of these people that rely upon the kilns for their livelihood.
With the reduced worker safety protections in Nepal, it also is difficult to communicate the long-term negative effects a short time working in a brick kiln can cause on workers. Yet, Thygerson is optimistic that informing the population will cause a shift in the workforce.
“Let them make informed decisions about where they want to work. Then perhaps with that informed workforce, you might see some supply and demand of workers,” Thygerson explained.
Through gathering information over the last decade and disseminating it to the public, Thygerson is hopeful that the industry will help police itself through supply and demand with a more informed workforce.
“You might see workers who will say, ‘I’m not going to work in the brick kilns because it’s hazardous.’ Then the brick kiln owners see that, wow, to get a worker here we need to implement certain safety strategies.”
One of the largest implementations workers have seen in the brick kilns is the positive incorporation of workers wearing N95 masks. This allows workers to breathe less pollution and to feel better working daily, avoiding nausea and dizziness that brick kilns’ poor air quality can cause.
When providing opportunities for workers to see the betterment of their lives, such as wearing N95 masks, it allows workers to feel better on the job site and see the research causing an instant betterment of their lives.
Through giving local workers implementable actions that will instantly better their lives, provided by their workplace for their safety and productivity, we see how beneficial research can be implemented.
The biggest reward for Thygerson is the incredible friendships he has made through this research project and the incredible people he has met throughout this 12-year project.
Thygerson mentioned, “I’ve been over there [Nepal] 15 times … I just love people. That personally has been very rewarding.”
Public health shows when multiple institutions and nations come together and identify a problem and research it, we are able to find an implementable solution that betters everyone that is involved.
Thygerson and his team of incredible Nepalese researchers have already done truly impactful work that has helped the workers and community members of Nepal live happier, longer and more fulfilling lives, all from the mention of a Ph.D. student wanting to see the dangers that brick kilns were having on workers.
From identifying the issue, to gathering funding, to hiring research members and collaborating with workers and scientists from Nepal, Thygerson has crucially helped in creating an international research project. All based on helping to enrich the lives of people in Nepal.
Thygerson explained, “I’ll go back to our research team. They’re amazing. I’ve learned a ton about their work ethic, but also about their culture and just how they love their people too. They’re doing it for the right reason as well … I’ve just learned that everybody kind of has the same desire to care about their fellow man and what to do best for them.”
Thygerson and his team remain committed to their research project and are excited to see the incredible work the team has yet to do.