Occupational health and safety survey in small-scale clothing enterprises in Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract

Small-scale enterprises and the informal sector constitute the fastest growing economic sectors and represent the most realistic form of employment creation. In Botswana, the number of informal businesses increased by 72% from 1999 to 2007, an important proportion involved in clothing manufacture. These businesses are vulnerable and prone to concern themselves with survival rather than improving health and safety and as such health risks remain high in their workplaces. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which small-scale clothing industries in the Gaborone area of Botswana comply with occupational health and safety standards and to make recommendations for the improvement of employee health and safety and productivity.

A quantitative cross-sectional survey of 36 small enterprises was conducted and data was collected using an inspection checklist adapted from the ILO's guidelines on Safety, Health and working Conditions inspections. Results showed that the enterprises employed between I – 8 persons with two-thirds (59.4%) employing 1 - 2 persons indicating that small businesses in clothing manufacture comprised mostly self-employed persons. Predominantly females (2 - 1 female to male ratio) were employed thus confirming the findings of the 2007 informal sector survey in Botswana which showed that 67.6% informal businesses were owned by females.

However, females are most at risk from health problems inherent in clothing manufacture particularly as studies show that musculoskeletal disorders that cause long-term disabilities and absenteeism are more common among them than males.

Work processes in small-scale clothing manufacture was found to be labour-intensive, involving long hours of standing particularly for workers designing, cutting and ironing, and sitting for machinists who do sewing. Work also involved lifting of heavy loads, was repetitive with sustained use of force and high-paced. Workers operated for 5 hours in the morning and 3-5 hours in the afternoon continuously with only a I-hour lunch break without short breaks to rest thus increasing fatigue, risk of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Workbenches and chairs were not appropriate for the nature and type of work, causing workers to adopt awkward postures.

The businesses were generally complying with requirements for cleanliness and provision of sanitary conveniences but ventilation and lighting were inadequate. None of the workplaces provided localized lighting and in most cases windows were too small to provide natural lighting and ventilation for normal airflow. Most workplaces were not complying with electrical installation standards. 63.9% of the workplaces had entangled wire connections and live wire terminals in the work area living workers exposed to serious injuries electrocution and burns from possible fire.

Emergency preparedness of the workplaces was also poor as non-had a first aid kit; only 8.3% had fire extinguishers and most had no emergency exit but only one door serving as entrance and exit. In addition workplaces were not complying with standards for the use of protective clothing and equipment and the maintenance and guarding of machines. Moreover, employers were not complying with their legal obligation to identify, remove or mitigate hazards in the workplace and did not train nor supervise employees in safe work procedures and use of workstations and machinery.

This survey revealed that small-scale clothing manufacture enterprises in the Gaborone area of Botswana were in the most not complying with universal occupational health and safety standards leading to a precarious state of workplace health and safety conditions. These findings justify the need to implement such improvements as reorientation of the factories inspection system, redesign of workbenches and chairs, granting employees short breaks to rest and grouping of businesses into small regional committees to facilitate training in occupational health and safety procedures and their use, and the identification and implementation of simple solutions for workplace health and safety problems.