The Practices and Challenges of Occupational Health and Safety in Ethiopia: the Case of Akaki Textile and Garment Factory
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Date
2014-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study assessed the current challenges of occupational health and safety practices and
the extent of occupational health hazards of the textile workers as well as the cost
implication of these work-related incidents and diseases among ATF. Four main
categories of Akaki textile and garment factory workers were targeted in AACA. The
sample consisted of 240 workers taking respondents randomly from each of the four work
categories according to their workers number proportionately. The study indicated that
work in the factory severely affected worker’s health, as most activities are insecure,
hazardous and take place in unhealthy and unsafe environment. In the study area the
particular nature of work in the integrated textile manufacturing created various types of
health hazards among the selected respondents such as headache, eye and skin infection,
back and chest pain, asthma, loss of interest and mental fatigue. Results of the study
showed that the highest 32 percent of the workers reported that they were affected by
physical hazards, followed by 26 percent by chemical hazards and the total economic
cost of work related injuries and illness among the four work departments for the last
Ethiopian budget year(2013/2014) was Birr. 13,090. From the foregoing, a major
recommendation is that both government and employing authority should ensure that
they adhere strictly to International Labour Organization safety and working conditions
or standard in order to increase productivity through improved welfare and health of
workers
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Keywords
Garment factory