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The Textile Industries Labor Environment Around the World
editWhat is your dream work environment? Is it having a comfortable seat, lunch breaks, restroom breaks, a clean area?What kind of environment do people think workers have in these factories? The Textile Industry has been around for quite some time since 1450s. This industry over the years employed more people than any other production industry.[1]Since then, textile companies have been creating a bad environment for their workers not caring about them as long as the production is taken care of. The textile industry consists of many processes such as spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, and many more that are required to convert fiber into finished fabrics or garments that are sellable. In the Textile Industry they only illustrate what they want about their companies but exclude the health issues that are associated to them. The workers in these textile companies/ factories are exposed to cotton dust, chemicals, noise, and ergonomic issues. All of these things cause serious mental and physical health issues to those individuals who work in the textile industry.
Exposure
editTo begin with, the exposure to cotton dust is very common in the textile industry because cotton fabrics are one of the top sellers. Cotton dust may contain many substances including ground-up plant matter, fiber, bacteria, fungi, soil, pesticides, non-cotton matter, and other contaminants that may have accumulated during the growing, harvesting, and subsequent processing or storage period. [2]
When the workers are spinning cotton that is when the exposure it at its maximal level. The exposure to cotton dust leads the textile workers to suffer from respiratory disorders. The most common fatal disease is byssinosis, commonly known as brown lung, is caused among working in the textile industry on account of excessive exposure. Common symptoms of this disease are tightening of the chest, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.[3]
Chemicals
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Exposure to chemicals is another huge issue that occurs in the textile industry. Epidemiological study shows that textile workers in the studied factory area are daily exposed to dangerous and toxic chemicals that threat their lives.[4] The textile workers are exposed to these chemicals when they perform activities such as dyeing, printing, and finishing the products. The chemicals that are based on betadine, optical brighteners, solvents and fixatives, crease-resistance agents that release formaldehyde, flame retardants that include organophosphorus and organ bromine compounds are found in the textile companies.
Formaldehyde is the chemical that has mostly been associated with nasal and lung cancer as well as brain cancer and leukemia. Having exposure to this chemical can respiratory difficulties and could affect the skin.
High Noise Levels
editIn addition, the textile workers are exposed to high noise levels that permanently affects their hearing capabilities. Noise emission rises non-linearly because of high rotary and travelling in machine parts. In the long run, exposure to all of that high noise level has been known to damage the ear drum and cause hearing loss.[5] Other problems that have been noted are fatigue, absenteeism, annoyance, anxiety, reduction of efficiency, change in pulse rate and blood pressure have all been effects from all the noise exposure these textile workers are exposed to. Loss of hearing is know to be developed with time and not at the moment, which is why it is ignored by the textile industry.
Ergonomic Issues
editErgonomic issues are constant in the textile industry. Mostly, in places such as India and Bangladesh. Workers in the industry have an unsafe working environment. It is an unsafe environment because they have improper ventilation and lighting, and a lack of efficiency safety measure in cases of emergencies. They do not prepare the workers with proper workshops on how they should react in any type of emergency that is presented. Also, these companies do not have the proper equipment that is needed for emergencies such as first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and alarms. The textile industry lacks all of this which makes it a poor working environment for these individuals that have to make a living out of these life threatening jobs. Safety and health measures plan an important role in the industry.
Conclusion
editIn conclusion the textile industry is very demanding toward its workers providing them with little to no resources. The workers in these textile companies are exposed to chemicals that affect their health. Illnesses and diseases such as leukemia and different types of cancer. Not only that, but they face ergonomic issues such as unsafe working environments that provide them with poor lighting and ventilation, and unsuitable furniture for long periods of time. These workers lack the proper training for emergencies and proper resources that are needed in situations as such. The textile industry must make proper accommodations for its workers because the treatment they are receiving is inhumane.
References
edit- ^ "Textile Industry | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ "Cotton Dust - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ Singh, Neelam (8 December 2016). "Safety and health issues in workers in clothing and textile industries" (PDF). International Journal of Home Science. 2: 38–40.
{{cite journal}}: line feed character in|title=at position 53 (help) - ^ Tounsadi, Hanane; Metarfi, Yousra; Taleb, M.; El Rhazi, Karima; Rais, Zakia (2020-07-01). "Impact of chemical substances used in textile industry on the employee's health: Epidemiological study". Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 197: 110594. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110594. ISSN 0147-6513.
- ^ Babel, Sudah; Tiwari, Meenaxi (5 April 2014). "Occupational health hazards in textiles industry" (PDF). Asian Journal of Home Science. 9: 267–271.