Workers' health Textile industry in Bangladesh

1 workers health

1.1 ergonomic hazards

1.1.1 policy , intervention


1.2 chemical hazards

1.2.1 bleaching agents , azo dyes
1.2.2 sandblasting

1.2.2.1 prevention strategies


1.2.3 potassium permanganate


1.3 noise-induced hearing loss

workers health

after more century of industrial experience , development of national regulation , international conventions, workers in bangladesh continue lose health , lives while contributing in national enrichment. scenario becomes worse when comes women workers. female workers exposed different occupational health hazards such work environment hazards, physical hazards , mental hazards. work environment hazards include long working hours, absence of leave facilities, congested , overcrowded working conditions, absence of health facilities , safety measures, absence of staff amenities, lack of safe drinking water. on other hand, physical hazards include exposures toxic agents, awkward postures , repetitive motion. exposure sexual, verbal , psychological harassment , violence @ work places of common mental health hazards. these hazards not affect female workers’ mental , physical being quality of work , productivity of workforce nationwide.

ergonomic hazards

working environment inside garment factory in bangladesh

musculoskeletal disorders have been identified important concern among textile workers. these complaints related highly repetitive movements, awkward postures in seated positions, repetitive hand , arm movements, prolonged working hours without adequate breaks , poorly designed work stations. these risk factors result in adverse health outcomes of workers such musculoskeletal complaints of neck, back, hands, shoulders , lower limbs.

most of female workers in garments factories work sewing operators, sewing operator helper, cutting personnel , finishing personnel. sewing machines operators work in seated postures forward flexion of head, neck, , torso long periods of time. results in strain on neck , back, , pain. case study conducted habib m. among sewing machines operators in bangladesh, found high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders related working in sitting position bending neck more 30° more 6 7 hours. additionally, sitting in forward flexed posture causes lumbar spine flatten leads imbalanced disc pressure , static contraction of extensor muscles of back. flattened lumbar spine may cause fatigue, disc degeneration , injuries. not related posture, design of workstation can worsen problem. sarder , colleagues found seats in garment factories devoid of backrest, allow intermittent short breaks resting upper body bending. also, many seats hard , wooden, without cushion prevent compression @ area of ischial tuberosities. though factories have sewing machines tables height adjustability options 70 – 80 cm, workers or never adjusted them because takes between 10–15 minutes adjust them.

moreover, workers experience excessive hand work involves gripping , pinching arm in constrained postures causes wrist pain. sewing machine operators involve in highly repetitive movements of elbows , wrists. researchers have found doing activities stitching involves wrist flexion of more 45° wrist extension 10-12 times per minute, put worker @ higher risk of developing wrist , elbow problems.

these risk factors have negative impact not on musculoskeletal health, on medical cost, efficiency, , optimal performance on activities of daily living. minimizing ergonomic risk factors through ergonomic intervention workers neglected in many of countries. reasons may scarcity of relevant professionals , additional cost implementations on majority of owners less interested. thus, there high rate of musculoskeletal symptoms in different body parts among sewing machine operators points out proper interventions. reduce awkward posture neck, , shoulders, sewing machine table, chair , paddle positions should adjusted considering worker’s body height in sitting position. workers should educated significance of postures on health not neglect instructions.

policy , intervention

up mid-1990s there little evidence available suggested improvement involving ergonomics principles have been implemented in garment factories in south east asia. though, solutions such work surface modification , adoption of adjustable chairs have been documented, anecdotal information shows there has been no improvement. following recommendations can implemented solutions reduce burden of musculoskeletal disorders among worker in garment industries:

chemical hazards
bleaching agents , azo dyes

bangladeshi leather industry. 0.5 million residents of bangladesh capital, dhaka @ risk of serious health issues due chemical pollution tanneries near homes.

there wide range of chemicals utilized in textile production dyeing , printing, these workers can exposed to. these chemicals include not limited bleaching agents , azo dyes. azo dyes, such aniline , benzadine, accounting on 50% of dyes produced annually of 2006. due high stability in light , washing resistance microbial activity. toxic effects of these dyes include hypersensitivity , irritant effects such contact dermatitis , asthma, exposure related concerns such malignancies bladder, nasal, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectal, nasopharyngeal , lung cancers. studies have postulated hypersensitivity effects may due alterations in neutrophil function , sensitization, contributing chronic inflammatory diseases of skin , respiratory tract. once sensitization has occurred, individual becomes more susceptible developing allergic disease on subsequent contact offending agent. exposure these chemicals typically occurs via direct contact skin or inhalation of dye particles. while of 2006 there no evidence suggest dyestuffs in use in these industries harmful @ levels workers exposed to, there concern long term or accidental over-exposure. long term or excessive exposure can sensitize worker’s immune system, leading hypersensitivity reactions such asthma , atopic dermatitis on subsequent exposure mentioned above. additionally, studies have demonstrated concerns regarding exposure textile dyes , occupational bladder cancer due aniline dye intermediates such beta-naphthylamine , benzidine, has long been identified human urinary carcinogen. latency period between exposure , diagnosis has been estimated @ 23 years. of 2006, screening recommendations detection of long term health effects dye exposure included hematologic testing microcytic anemia , leukopenia. however, many females working in industry did not have access such screening , surveillance due lack of quality medical care.

sandblasting

sandblasting technique used on denim give garment worn look. sand used composed of 95% quartz , 15% feldspar. silicosis often-fatal lung disease caused exposure respirable silica dust. silicosis leads more severe lung diseases such as; lung cancer, bronchitis, , tuberculosis. in 2003, turkish investigators performed , published case study in journal of occupational health on 5 sandblasting factories. found workers inside poorly ventilated factories being exposed respirable silica dust 20 times of recommended safety levels. case study followed sample of sandblasters these factories, mean age of 23, , employment duration of 3 years. when study concluded, on 1 third of sandblasters had lab-confirmed silicosis , 2 workers had died during study.

prevention strategies

exposing dangers of sandblasting has forced government agencies step in , attempt contain , control amount of dust exposure. 1 method of containing silica dust addition of water. average respirable particulate levels drastically declined after water spray controls installed in stone crusher mill in india. measure brought light effectiveness of reducing silica exposure through relatively inexpensive modifications. may take time these factories comply permissible exposure limit silica @ least measures being implicated, or suggested, have positive health impact sandblasting workers.

potassium permanganate

another popular chemical involved in alternate sandblasting technique potassium permanganate or kmno4. odorless, dark purple, sand-like oxidizing agent. used lighten color of denim in specific areas. in process of sand blasting, worker sprays potassium permanganate on specific area on denim garment hose or brush. washed off, leaving chemical treated area lighter color surrounding untreated area. when potassium permanganate dries, bleach sprayed on top of treated area neutralize potassium permanganate , washed second time. there multiple exposure routes potassium permanganate cause serious adverse reactions worker, these are: dermal contact, contact eye, inhalation , ingestion. when potassium permanganate comes in contact skin, can cause irritation, deep burns, rashes , dying of skin. if potassium permanganate exposed eye, severe irritation permanent eye damage possible. inhalation of potassium permanganate can irritate respiratory tract , can lead chronic lung diseases such asthma, silicosis, , pulmonary edema. ingestion of potassium permanganate causes severe nausea , diarrhea , lastly, rare cases, chronic exposure potassium permanganate adversely affect liver , kidneys , may decrease fertility.

noise-induced hearing loss

one work environment health risk gets overlooked noise induced hearing loss (nihl). nihl has become 1 of biggest occupational disease risks occupational nihl contributing 16% of global deafness. chronic exposure high decibels can lead development of nihl among manufacturing workers damaging sensory hair cells in inner ear. these 2 points illustrate how nihl significant occupational health risk. asia has, on last 50 years, seen significant growth in manufacturing of both primary products , finished products. increase in manufacturing has led increased exposure high levels of noise , has contributed increased nihl among workers. in bangladesh, occupations have greatest exposure noisy work environments automobile drivers, traffic police, shopkeepers, road-side hawkers, , garment workers. garment workers in bangladesh face noise levels of 96-100 decibels adjusted (dba), significant contributor nihl among women textile workers in bangladesh. there options available protect workers chronic exposure high noise levels in textile industry. simple measures implemented on machinery include such actions decreasing noise , creating noise barriers. workers, use of personal protective equipment, establishing maximum daily exposures, can go long way mitigate worker exposures chronic noise.