Occupational safety and health hazards of apparel sector: perspective of Northern Province employees of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is an important aspect which allows an organisation to systematically manage the safety and health of the workers in a workplace. Adoption of OSH in a work environment therefore helps for the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing in all occupations. Literature reveals that the apparel sector's working environment is mostly associated with different kinds of workers, machinery and management teams and therefore, it should be safe and free from safety and health risks and hazards. Although there is a growing concern on OSH hazards, a lack of attention has received for researches on OSH in Sri Lankan context. Further, researches conducted on OSH in Northern in Sri Lanka are hardly found. Hence, the aim of this research is to investigate the level of exposure of employees working in apparel manufacturing organisations in Northern Province of Sri Lanka to different OSH hazards.A comprehensive literature review identified 31number of OSH hazards of apparel sector in the global and local contexts and the levels of exposure of the employees to those hazards were identified through a questionnaire survey. The data were collected from 76 number of employees working in eight different apparel manufacturing organisations in Northern Province of Sri Lanka. The collected data were analysed using RII (Relative Importance Index) method. As the study revealed, the hazards to which the apparel manufacturing employees in Northern Province of Sri Lanka are mostly exposed to are "excessive noise", "repetitive nature of works", "stress", "excessive exposure to cotton dust" and "taking imbalance diet" under physical, ergonomic, psychological, chemical and biological hazard categories respectively.

Occupational stress and health risk of employees working in the garments sector of Bangladesh: An empirical study

“…For instance, Chandra and Parvez ( 47 ) found women workers are more sufferers regarding health risk in garments factories. Some others Studies ( 59 , 63 , 84 ) which confirmed the findings of the present study. There is statistically significant health risks ( P < 0.05) between supervisors and workers ( Table 11 ).…”

“…Results of the Table 15 have been found significant positive correlations between almost all aspects of work and professional stress, except relationships and promotion with colleagues. Several studies also supported same results and findings i.e., Mahmud et al ( 84 ), Thatshayini and Rajini ( 59 ), Mohibullah et al ( 57 ), Chaturvedi and Kumar ( 53 ), and Polat and Kalayci ( 85 ).…”

“…Study found positive correlation between health risk and age (0.414 * ), income (0.017 * * ), and work experience (0.558 * * ). Several studies found same results (7,23,53,59). Thus, hypothesis 3a is accepted.…”

“…Talapatra and Rahman ( 23 ) and Chegini et al ( 58 ) revealed some common health hazards of the garments factory premises including excessive sound and temperature, lighting and unclear working environment, exposure to undue vibration and dust, poor ventilation and work safety, and lack of disposal of wastes and effluents. Thatshayini and Rajini ( 59 ) also argued same types of health hazards in the garment industry which are liable to physical diseases and mental disorders. Legesse ( 60 ) noticed that the personality factors have shown inclination toward stress; stress causes anxiety, and other occupational health risk.…”

Human Resources Challenges in Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka

“…As a result, they have to face many social issues that describe in this study. Another researcher identified that health and safety become a challenge for the apparel industry (Thatshayini & Rajini, 2018). The researcher of this study identified that not meeting the basic expectations of the employees in their health and safety needs, they found difficulties and adapting to the new urban, they were automatically addicted to some severe problems.…”