Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt
Background: Garment industry in Egypt has been estimated in 2008 to be about 458 enterprises (employing 103,000 workers) representing 42.0% of the overall textile and garments industries, and 4.8% of the total private sector enterprises. Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, which is the greatest city of ElGharbia...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Alexandria University
2016-12-01
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Series: | Journal of High Institute of Public Health |
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author | Kamal H. Noweir Fadia A. El- Marakby Hend A Yousef Gehan R. Zaki |
author_facet | Kamal H. Noweir Fadia A. El- Marakby Hend A Yousef Gehan R. Zaki |
author_sort | Kamal H. Noweir |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Background: Garment industry in Egypt has been estimated in 2008 to be about 458 enterprises
(employing 103,000 workers) representing 42.0% of the overall textile and garments industries, and
4.8% of the total private sector enterprises. Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, which is the greatest city of ElGharbia Governorate houses 263 (57.4%) of these enterprises (employing 12,209 workers). The
occupational exposure to physical hazards may adversely affect workers' comfort, health, performance
and productivity.
Objective(s): This study was designed to assess the relation between work stresses imposed by
exposure to physical hazards and productivity in Garment industry in that city.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in five garment enterprises in AlMahalla Al-Kobra city. The five enterprises included two public and three private sector units,
representing 12% of the total number of garments' workers within the city. The collected data included
data from records, workers' and employers' or managers' interview, and the results of the physical
hazards' assessments. Since it was difficult to calculate the workers' productivities directly from
enterprises' records, the productivities of the workers were computed as follows: % of productivity =
Standard workers' productivity (100%) - % deficiency in his or her productivity from the standard.
Results: The higher percent productivity reported in the Private sector enterprises (86.5%, 86.5% and
100% in C, D, and E enterprises respectively) than in the Public (71.5% and 54.7% in A and B
enterprises respectively) may be attributed to the production payment regimen common in the former
than in the latter. The workers in the Private-sector enterprises were keen to achieve the greatest
production to get maximum payment. This may also interpret the considerably higher workers'
attendance (less absenteeism) among Private-sector workers than in the Public-sector ones.
Conclusions: The deleterious effects of workers' exposure to physical hazards; heat, noise and
vibration, and improper illumination on their productivity are clearly demonstrated in the present study.
Attention should be directed towards the control of these hazards and improving the work environment
of the garment industry in Egypt, particularly in the Public sector enterprises. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-24T01:27:36Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d0702eed05544ae186d2928505233480 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2357-0601 2357-061X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-24T01:27:36Z |
publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
publisher | Alexandria University |
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series | Journal of High Institute of Public Health |
spelling | doaj.art-d0702eed05544ae186d29285052334802022-12-21T17:22:27ZengAlexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-06012357-061X2016-12-01462496010.21608/JHIPH.2016.20590Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of EgyptKamal H. Noweir0Fadia A. El- Marakby1Hend A Yousef2Gehan R. Zaki3Department of Occupational Health and Air Pollution, Occupational Hygiene and Air Pollution Specialty, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptDepartment of Occupational Health and Air Pollution, Occupational Hygiene and Air Pollution Specialty, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptOccupational Health and Safety Inspector, Ministry of Manpower and Immigration, Gharbia Governorate, EgyptDepartment of Occupational Health and Air Pollution, Occupational Hygiene and Air Pollution Specialty, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptBackground: Garment industry in Egypt has been estimated in 2008 to be about 458 enterprises (employing 103,000 workers) representing 42.0% of the overall textile and garments industries, and 4.8% of the total private sector enterprises. Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, which is the greatest city of ElGharbia Governorate houses 263 (57.4%) of these enterprises (employing 12,209 workers). The occupational exposure to physical hazards may adversely affect workers' comfort, health, performance and productivity. Objective(s): This study was designed to assess the relation between work stresses imposed by exposure to physical hazards and productivity in Garment industry in that city. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in five garment enterprises in AlMahalla Al-Kobra city. The five enterprises included two public and three private sector units, representing 12% of the total number of garments' workers within the city. The collected data included data from records, workers' and employers' or managers' interview, and the results of the physical hazards' assessments. Since it was difficult to calculate the workers' productivities directly from enterprises' records, the productivities of the workers were computed as follows: % of productivity = Standard workers' productivity (100%) - % deficiency in his or her productivity from the standard. Results: The higher percent productivity reported in the Private sector enterprises (86.5%, 86.5% and 100% in C, D, and E enterprises respectively) than in the Public (71.5% and 54.7% in A and B enterprises respectively) may be attributed to the production payment regimen common in the former than in the latter. The workers in the Private-sector enterprises were keen to achieve the greatest production to get maximum payment. This may also interpret the considerably higher workers' attendance (less absenteeism) among Private-sector workers than in the Public-sector ones. Conclusions: The deleterious effects of workers' exposure to physical hazards; heat, noise and vibration, and improper illumination on their productivity are clearly demonstrated in the present study. Attention should be directed towards the control of these hazards and improving the work environment of the garment industry in Egypt, particularly in the Public sector enterprises.ready made garment industryproductivityphysical hazardsal-mahalla al-kubraegypt |
spellingShingle | Kamal H. Noweir Fadia A. El- Marakby Hend A Yousef Gehan R. Zaki Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt Journal of High Institute of Public Health ready made garment industry productivity physical hazards al-mahalla al-kubra egypt |
title | Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt |
title_full | Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt |
title_fullStr | Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt |
title_full_unstemmed | Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt |
title_short | Occupational Exposure to Some Environmental Physical Factors as Related to Productivity in the Garment Industry of Egypt |
title_sort | occupational exposure to some environmental physical factors as related to productivity in the garment industry of egypt |
topic | ready made garment industry productivity physical hazards al-mahalla al-kubra egypt |
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