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 El- Gharbia 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 Al-Mahalla 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

Attitudes of OHS inspectors towards practicing factory inspection in Egypt

Workplace inspection is part of a comprehensive health and safety program in which the workplace is closely examined on a regular basis of identifying and reviewing potential and actual hazards associated with equipment, tools, and industrial processes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the process of factory inspection as a tool of pertaining safety and welfare of employees in Egypt as well as to study the attitudes of inspectors who are responsible for the process of factory inspection in Egypt. The present study is conducted on 210 inspectors. 145 of them belong to different industrial, commercial, and service enterprises in Egypt and classified as group [A]. The other 65 inspectors are members of the Ministry of Labor in Egypt and classified as group [B]. Two forms of questionnaires are formed to provide personal, professional, and attitudinal data. Percentages of males in group [A] inspectors [95.2%] are greatly higher than that in group [B] [46.0%]. The bachelor degree in group [B] inspectors [89%] is more predominant than in group [A] inspectors [50.3%]. The main source of occupational health and safety [OHS] knowledge for group [A] inspectors is the training programs [75%], while, it is the practical training or by asking seniors for group[B]. The predominant aims of inspectors are safe work environment, safe workers and mitigation of occupational hazards. Some of job descriptions are identical. There are significant variation between the two groups of inspectors in how they evaluate work environment, [P=0.00001[asterisk]]. Only 78% and 91% of groups [Al and [B] inspectors, respectively know the Egyptian Labor Law No.12/2003. In case of danger, 73% of group [A] and 72% of group [B] inspectors take action[s] coincide with their responsibilities as informing management. There is non-significant variation between their opinion regarding the importance of the field of OHS and environment. Factory inspection is an important tool in assisting OHS programs. Efforts should be directed to enrich knowledge of inspectors continuously. Legislative knowledge is also needed. Inspectors should be continuously encouraged and supported from all involved authorities; this will help them do perfectly. Employers should be encouraged to fulfill the requirements of OHS programs

Study of the acidic deposition phenomenon over Alexandria city

Acid deposition commonly occurs due to conversion of primary acidic pollutants [SO[2] and NO[2]] into secondary pollutants [H[2]SO[4] and HNO[3] and their salts]. The main natural sources of acid deposition in Alexandria include lightening and microbial processes. Anthropogenic sources include traffic, industrial, fuel burning, and incineration activities. Acid deposition has ecological and economic effects in addition to health effects. The objective of this study is to assess acidity of dry and wet depositions in the atmosphere of Alexandria. Dry samples were collected as settled dust using plastic jar. Wet samples were collected as rain water using polyethylene bottle. All samples were analyzed for pH, sulfates, and nitrates. The relatively high pH values observed in depositions of Alexandria city [6.95 +/- 0.22] and [7.14 +/- 0.49] for settled dust and rain water respectively indicating the conversion of the formed acids [H[2]SO[4] and HNO[3]] into their salts. This explanation was confirmed by the relatively high concentrations of sulfates and nitrates. The average values were [14.3 +/- 4.21 g/km[2]/month and 20.5 +/- 9.5mg/L for sulfates], and [22.6 +/- 10.6 g/km[2]/month and 0.5 +/- 0.32 mg/L for nitrates] for settled dust and rainwater samples respectively. It can be concluded that Alexandria is a lucky city regarding acidity of the atmosphere due to its geographic, topographic, and meteorological features. Building up acid deposition monitoring network that covers all Egyptian cities to be a nucleus for African network, using new technologies that reduce emission of acid deposition precursors and alternative sources of energy, implementing and enforcing regulations and standards for major pollutants, and increasing public awareness are recommended