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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Main Authors: Kamal H. Noweir, Fadia A. El- Marakby, Hend A Yousef, Gehan R. Zaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexandria University 2016-12-01
Series:Journal of High Institute of Public Health
Subjects:
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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.
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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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AT hendayousef occupationalexposuretosomeenvironmentalphysicalfactorsasrelatedtoproductivityinthegarmentindustryofegypt
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