London: One in four Sherpas are caught with occupational health problems while on their tough job to guide mountaineers up and down the dangerous peaks of Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayan peaks, according to a new study.
A study led by Professor Ewan Macdonald along with a former student, Shrijana Shrestha, a Nepali and Master of Public Health graduate of the University of Glasgow did investigations on the health effects of this strenuous and dangerous job while on a climbing trip to Island Peak and Ama Dablam in Eastern Nepal.
The results of the study showed a high prevalence of respiratory, musculo-skeletal and eye symptoms all requiring further investigation and that 25 per cent or one in four Sherpas had been involved in accidents, it said.
However, there has been little research on the occupational health of the Nepalese Sherpas that make a living scaling the world's tallest mountains on a regular basis.
Sherpas are a people of the Himalayas who frequently put their life on the line for visiting climbers by breaking trails, fixing ropes, carrying enormous loads, putting up tents, feeding and protecting often unfit foreign climbers.
The lead Sherpa was Lakpa Rangdu Sherpa, who expressed interest in assisting with the study and was a member of the board of the Himalayan High Altitude Welfare Association (HAMWA).
There was also a number who had suffered illnesses endemic to Nepal, such as tuberculosis and cholera.
"This research paper is the first to look at the work and health issues of high-altitude climbing Sherpas.
"Nepal is a poor country with considerable health inequalities, and the income from climbing expeditions is important for the economy," Ewan said.
"While these Sherpas are well paid, this is only when they work and if injured, there is little support for them or their families," he said.
The aim of this study was to identify and draw attention to the considerable occupational hazards of working as a climbing Sherpa and also to the similar problems experienced by the many porters who are much poorer.
The study is published in the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.
