How to Maintain Workplace Safety and Health?

To maintain workplace safety and health, the below outlines several key requirements and best practices that suppliers should implement:

General Requirements

• Suppliers must have accurate and up-to-date health and safety permits and licenses maintaining all applicable health and safety notices in languages understood by workers.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committee

• Establish an OSH committee composed of worker and management representatives that meets regularly to investigate health and safety incidents and ensure workplace inspections are performed.

Job Hazard Analysis

• Conduct job hazard analysis to identify potential hazards associated with specific tasks or roles within the workplace.
• Develop and implement action plans to manage and mitigate identified job hazards, ensuring that the risks are communicated to all employees involved
  For example: job hazard in jeans dyeing and cut & sew garment factory:
• Jeans Dyeing
  • Chemical Exposure: Workers are exposed to a variety of harmful chemicals such as dyes, mordants, and fixatives. These chemicals can cause skin irritation, allergies, and breathing problems. Some azo dyes are banned because they can cause cancer.
  • Formaldehyde Exposure: Formaldehyde is often used in the dyeing process to make the fabric smooth and less likely to wrinkle. It can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, asthma, and even cancer.
  • Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The machinery used in dyeing and printing processes can generate high levels of noise, leading to hearing loss over time.

• Cut & Sew

  • Ergonomic Risks: Sewing machine operators perform repetitive movements and sit in the same position for long hours, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Workers engaged in fabric cutting, ironing, and quality control stand for long periods without anti-fatigue mats or chairs, further exacerbating these issues.
  • Mechanical Hazards: Workers are at risk of injuries from the moving parts of machinery or tools without proper protection. For example, injuries from needles are common among sewing machine operators if needle guards are not used. In the fabric cutting department, workers may suffer cuts from cutting machines.
  • Psychosocial Risks: There is pressure to meet tight production targets and deadlines, which can lead to stress and mental health issues.
     

Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness

• Maintain a valid fire safety license and develop policies on fire prevention and emergency response.
• Conduct regular emergency drills (for fires and natural disasters) at least every six months.
• Ensure emergency exits are clear, well-marked, accessible, and unobstructed.

First Aid and Medical Care

• Keep well-stocked first aid kits accessible to all workers, including sufficient medical supplies and trained personnel on each shift.
• Establish mechanisms for external medical treatment in case of injuries or illnesses.
• Maintain logs of accidents and health incidents, and engage in root cause analysis for corrective actions.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Conduct annual PPE risk assessments and ensure appropriate PPE is provided to workers.
• Train workers in the proper use and maintenance of PPE.

Safety in Machinery and Equipment

• Ensure that all machinery is equipped with necessary safety devices and undergoes regular maintenance and inspection.
• Implement and enforce Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures to protect workers during maintenance.

Environment and Ergonomics

• Maintain proper lighting and noise levels, implement ergonomics programs to minimize risks from physically demanding tasks, and prevent work-related injuries.
• Ensure clean and sanitary conditions, including regular maintenance of restrooms and access to potable water.

Chemical and Hazardous Material Management

• Implement strict policies for the handling, storage, and labeling of hazardous materials, including material safety data sheets (MSDS). You can use this to find SDS as needed: https://chemicalsafety.com/sds-search/
• Train workers on the handling of chemicals and ensure appropriate emergency procedures are in place.

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