Study of safety and security issues in the working environment of small scale industries of old Dhaka

Abstract

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (5Mb) employ len times as many \\iorker~ a~ hC3Vy industry in l3angladcsh according to World Rank. Again the census of manufacturing industries has enumerated that around 64 percent of the tolal ~l1lpl<lymenl "f the Dhaka city provided by the ini(lTTllal sector. 'jhcrefore understandably, the working conditions ill these induslrie, specially the old part of Dhaka with their small investments and unskilled and illilerate workforce is barely what they should be, In f..1Ct,nOI all factory regulation~ ,el hy Bangladesh Gover~menl are applic3ble 10the Small Scale Industries (SSls), "hleh employ less than 50 "orke,-,.. The concept of safet), i~~ue8 anJ its applicability in designi~g heller working environment is important becau;,e they inlluenee workers' life expecl<lncy, quality of life and "'ork efficiency, The study aimed to inve>tigate the safely i~,ues in scleeted four types of Small Scale Indust';e,; ie, Pla~tie recycling and product manufacturing industry, Light engineering w<>rhhops, Musical instrument manufacturing industry & Conch shell craft indu,try located in the areas of Islambagh, l.albagh, Dholaikhal. Shakharibazar & Bhagolpur in accordance with Banglade,h National Building Code, 1993 and the Factory Rules of lJangladesh. . An extensive survey was conducted on the factory owners and the worker> of the Old Dhaka to learn the sarety condition~ 01"these Small Scale Industries. A checkli,t was also prepared to wnduct a physical survey in the sclected factories of Old Dhaka. I his research study reveals that more than 75 percent "fthe workers do not use personal protective devices, about 60 percent of the factories do not have any emergency preparedness facililies to tackle in case of any accident or fire, Only 3 percent of the laeto,ie, u,e ,,,I"ely sign, and symbols in the work premises and 18 percent of the workers have training lor their spccitie jobs, which is a matter of coneem in dealing with the safety issues. This the~i~ allempts to contribute suggestions ",ith the hope of drawing worKers' :md employers' a",arene~s and public attemion lo,,'nrd, un~nle conditions in the working environment 0 I'the~ industries. As this is just a step to learn the existing situation' of the area, a work"thorough investigation with an under:;tanding "I' employers' attitudes and workers' involvement and coordinated re,earch is required to make the working environment 01'..these industries a more safe place to work