Exploring the Factors affecting unsafe acts of health and safety, at a selected factory in apparel manufacturing Industry

Abstract

Apparel manufacturing is one of main export – based industry in Sri Lanka. According to 14 years’ experience of the researcher in apparel sector, it is identified that apparel sector’s working environment is included with different kind of machines, equipment, employees, and management systems. In addition to that apparel sector is strictly regulated under the social compliance standards of the customers and which includes firm regulations related to Occupational Health and Safety (OSH). Workplace accident prevention is one of main priority of OSH standards of the customers. Literature reveals that the root course for 80% of workplace accidents is Unsafe Acts of the employees. The research is conducted to explore the factors affecting unsafe acts based on ABC Apparels (Pvt) Limited which is a branch factory of leading apparel manufacturing group in Sri Lanka. General objective of the research is to identify the factors affecting unsafe acts of health and safety. Comprehensive literature review identified 04 main factors affecting unsafe acts and those are Training, Supervision, Unsafe Conditions and Work Stress. Specific objectives of the research are to identify the impact of training, impact of supervision, impact of unsafe conditions unsafe conditions and impact of work stress work stress on unsafe acts of health and safety. Sample for quantitative data analysis was hundred sewing machine operators of the factory and quantitative data was collected through questionnaire. Qualitative data was collected through structured interviews. According to the outcomes of data analysis it was determined that factors affecting Unsafe Acts in ABC Apparel (Pvt) Limited are Training, Supervision, Work Stress and Unsafe Conditions.