Health and safety measures available for young labourers in the cottage industries of Karachi.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the health problems faced by labourers, 18 years and under, working in the cottage industries of Karachi and know the safety measures available and utilized at these places.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using two-stage cluster sampling.

PLACE AND DURATION

From February 2002 to March 2003, 95 cottage industries from 10 different locations of five districts of Karachi were included.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

All workers, 18 years and below, present were interviewed. The environmental and safety gadgets present at the industry were inspected by the surveyors and the manager was interviewed for presence of health and safety benefits for the workers.

RESULTS

A total of 280 workers were interviewed, 26 (9.3%) children were between 9-12 years, 82 (29.3%) were between 13-15 and 172 (61.4%) were between 16-18 years of age. Health benefit was given to only one 13-year-old worker in silk industry; appropriate gadgets were absent in 93 (97.8%) industries, present only in 2 industries (one silk and one loom). First Aid box was present in only one loom industry. Two hundred and forty workers (85.7%) were unaware of the materials they were using. One hundred and ninety-three (69%) children were working in improper light, 199(71%) workers experienced high level of noise, 232(83%) were working in high temperature and 155(55.3%) were working with improper ventilation. Health problems faced included joint pains (n=64, 22.85%), backache (n=85, 30.35%), vertigo (n=48, 17.14%), numbness of fingers (n=77, 27.5%) and fatigue experienced by 143 (51.07%) children.

CONCLUSION

The children and adolescents employed in cottage industry are suffering from health problems due to lack of knowledge on their part, and improper ergonomics, environmental and safety conditions at the workplace. The cottage industry should be regulated and brought under labour law. The health sector non-governmental organizations should make concerted efforts for the rehabilitation of this workforce by creating awareness and providing opportunities for education and development of skills.