Asian Journal of Home Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Garment Workers in Tirupur, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Family Resource Management, Home Science College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai (T.N.), India
2 Indian Society of Ergonomics (ISE), Kolkata (W.B.), India
3 Physical Science and Information Technology, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Introduction: The readymade garment (RMG) sector is labour-oriented and one of the largest employers in India and is a key driver of the national economy. But workers are exploited easily due to lack of technical knowledge and training, absence of health facilities and safety measures in work place. The triad of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) together make up the dynamic system of life itself. Objectives:To assess the levels of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) among garment workers.Materials and Methods:The present study was taken up in the Tirupur district which is situated in Tamil Nadu state, India. Five hundred and fourteen workers employed in garment industries were surveyed toassess their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the occupational health and safety in garment industries. Results:The mean age of 514 garment workers was 30 (±8.7) years with mean work experience of 10 (±8.7) years. Above half of the workers (57%) were male and 43 per cent were female. Sixty per cent of the workers were married and 56 per cent of the workers had high school education. Of the workers, 41% were in permanent type of employment and 59% in temporary employment.Garment industry was categorized into three sections and workers were employed in cutting section (13%), stitching (48%) and finishing (39%).Majority of the work hours during regular days were between 11 and 12 hours (79%) while during peak days it exceeded 15 hours (93%).The mean and standard deviation of the total score of knowledge, attitude and practice were obtained to find the level of knowledge, attitude and practice among garment workers. The workers possessed medium level of knowledge (72%), attitude (93%) and practice (70%) about occupational health and safety.The variables namely knowledge, attitude and practice of workers employed in garment industries were found to be significant at one per cent indicating a good relationship among them.Conclusion:Safety training to increase knowledge and practicing habits need to be encouraged. Regular supervision to ensure and promote workplace safety and motivate the workers to use PPE regularly while at work is also recommended.

Keywords

Garment Workers, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, OHS.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ahmad, I., Muhammad, S.Q., Yasir, M., Irfanullah, M., Khan, M.A., Aslam, S.Z., Alam, J., Iqbal, J., Sikander, I. and Waqas, M. (2012). Knowledge, attitude and practice related to occupational health and safety among textile mills workers in Dera Ismail Khan.Gomal J. Med. Sci., 10(2): 222-226.

  • Haldiya, K.R., Sachdev, R., Mathur, M.L. and Saiyed, H.N. (2005). Knowledge, attitude and practices related to occupational health problems among salt workers working in the desert of Rajasthan, India. J. Occup. Health, 47 : 85–88.

  • Iqbal, M. (2010).Country report Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Government’s efforts to develop and strengthen national occupational safety and health system, Ankara-Turkey. 24-29 May: 1-5.

  • Jacks, G., Killage, M. and Magnusson, C. (1994). The environmental cost of T-shirt sharing common water resources. Proc. Int. Bioeth. Workshop in Madras. Background Paper. 17.

  • Kaliyaperumal, K. (2004).Guideline for conducting Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study. AECS Illumination, 4:7-9.

  • Kausalya, R. and Amuthalakshmi, P. (2007). Relationship between ergonomic factors and health hazards in software industries. J. Environ. Res. Develop., 2(2):250-257.

  • Lakhan, R. and Sharma, M. (2010).A study of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey of families toward their children with intellectual disability in Barwani, India. Asia Pac.Disab. Rehab. J., 21 : 101-117.

  • Launiala, A. and Honkasalo, M.L. (2007). Ethnographic study of factors influencing compliance to intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy among Yao women in rural Malawi. Trans. R. Soc.Trop. Med. Hyg., 101:980-9.

  • Megeid, Z.M.A, Hammadi, A.E.L., Hamdi, A.B. and Malak, M. (2011). A study of the application of ergonomics in readymade garments factories in Egypt. J. Ame. Sci., 7(3):738-747.

  • Norkaew, S., Siriwong, W., Siripattanakul, S. and Robson,M.G. (2010) Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of using personal protective equipment (PPE) for chilli-growing farmers in Huarua sub-district, Mueang district, Ubonrachathani province, Thailand. J. Heath Res., 24 : 83-86.

  • Parimalam, P., Kamalamma, N. and Ganguli, A.K. (2007). Knowledge, attitude and practice related to occupational health problems among garment workers in Tamil Nadu, India. J. Occup. Health, 49 : 528–534.

  • Parimalam, P., Premalatha, M.R., Padmini, D.S. and Ganguli, A.K. (2010). Knowledge, attitude and practice of dyeing and printing workers. Indian J. Community Med., 35(4):498-501.

  • Singh, S. (2009).homepage on SOMO. [Online] Available: somo.nl/publications-en/Publication_3126/at_download/ fullfile.

  • Stigzelius, I., Frericsdotter, L. and Herbert, C.M. (2006). Implementation of SA8000 in Indian garment manufacturing- a socio-economic assessment of the impacts on working conditions and business practices in Proc. CRRC, 3.

  • Truong, C.D., Siriwong, W. and Robson, M.G. (2008). Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice on using of personal protective equipment in Rattan craftsmen at trade village, Kienxuong District, Thaibinh Province, Vietnam. KienxuongChulalongkorn Univ.2008.

  • Yu, I.T., Lee, N.L. and Wong, T.W. (2005). Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding organic solvents among printing workers in Hong Kong. J. Occup. Health, 47 : 305–310.

  • Regional Repor t. (2010).website [Online] Available: www.verite.org/…/HELP%20WANTED_A%20Verite%20 Report_Indian%20Migrant%20Workers.pdf.


Abstract Views: 254

PDF Views: 0




  • Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Garment Workers in Tirupur, India

Abstract Views: 254  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

D. S. Padmini
Department of Family Resource Management, Home Science College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai (T.N.), India
A. Venmathi
Indian Society of Ergonomics (ISE), Kolkata (W.B.), India
M. R. Duraisamy
Physical Science and Information Technology, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (T.N.), India
A. K. Ganguli
Indian Society of Ergonomics (ISE), Kolkata (W.B.), India

Abstract


Introduction: The readymade garment (RMG) sector is labour-oriented and one of the largest employers in India and is a key driver of the national economy. But workers are exploited easily due to lack of technical knowledge and training, absence of health facilities and safety measures in work place. The triad of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) together make up the dynamic system of life itself. Objectives:To assess the levels of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) among garment workers.Materials and Methods:The present study was taken up in the Tirupur district which is situated in Tamil Nadu state, India. Five hundred and fourteen workers employed in garment industries were surveyed toassess their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the occupational health and safety in garment industries. Results:The mean age of 514 garment workers was 30 (±8.7) years with mean work experience of 10 (±8.7) years. Above half of the workers (57%) were male and 43 per cent were female. Sixty per cent of the workers were married and 56 per cent of the workers had high school education. Of the workers, 41% were in permanent type of employment and 59% in temporary employment.Garment industry was categorized into three sections and workers were employed in cutting section (13%), stitching (48%) and finishing (39%).Majority of the work hours during regular days were between 11 and 12 hours (79%) while during peak days it exceeded 15 hours (93%).The mean and standard deviation of the total score of knowledge, attitude and practice were obtained to find the level of knowledge, attitude and practice among garment workers. The workers possessed medium level of knowledge (72%), attitude (93%) and practice (70%) about occupational health and safety.The variables namely knowledge, attitude and practice of workers employed in garment industries were found to be significant at one per cent indicating a good relationship among them.Conclusion:Safety training to increase knowledge and practicing habits need to be encouraged. Regular supervision to ensure and promote workplace safety and motivate the workers to use PPE regularly while at work is also recommended.

Keywords


Garment Workers, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, OHS.

References