الفهرس 
CHAPTER (III): HEALTH HAZARDS AND WORK-RELATED HEALTH PROPLEMS IN GARMENT INDUSTRY
The following describes procedure and subjects of this study:Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Garment Industry is a labour-intensive task. Garment workers face several ergonomic stressors due to poor physical work environment. Objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the health status of workers and the applied safety measures in the garment industry. Subjects and methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Miser Spinning and Weaving Company (MSWC) in El Mahala El Kobra City, Gharbyia Governorate, Egypt. The study included 350 female garment workers and an equal number of 350 administrative female workers as comparative group. An interview questionnaire was filled to collect required data. The extended version of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the onset, prevalence, and consequences of musculoskeletal disorders. Job Factors Questionnaire (JFQ) was applied to assess the levels of exposure to ergonomic risk factors among studied workers. The latest edition of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Checklist (2016) was used and filled by the researcher to check safety measures available and applied in the workplace environment. Results: The mean age of exposed workers was 41.8+6.65 years compared to 41.61±7.354 among non exposed workers with a mean duration of work of 20.80±10.368 among exposed workers compared to 18.38±9.396 among non exposed group . More than half of exposed (58.6%) were sewing machine operators . Most of exposed workers (83.5%) suffered from musculoskeletal disorders compared to 60.9% of non exposed workers, while 72.9 % of exposed workers suffered from occular disorders compared to 54.9% of non exposed workers . The frequency of VII
respiratory disorders among exposed workers was as follow, rhinitis (28%), cough (23.7%), expectoration (23.4%), asthma (21.7%) and wheezes (10%). More than half of the exposed workers (55%) suffered from low back pain, followed by neck pain (48%). Regarding the non exposed workers , the frequency of low back pain was 43% , followed by neck pain (35%). Most of the studied workers perceived that exposure to the potential ergonomic risk factors was a major to moderate causes of development of their musculoskeletal disorders. Significant difference was found between both groups in all the items except for, insufficient breaks during the work day, working in the same position for long periods and continuing to work when injured. Logistic regression analysis of predictors of musculoskeletal disorders among studied workers showed that odds of MSDs were increased by age. Also, it pointed that working very fast for short periods, working in awkward or cramped positions and using heavy tools or causing vibration were the significant predictors for musculoskeletal disorders. environmental measurements in the workplace revealed that noise measurements were within the permissible levels in five points and six points respectively in factory 1 and 2 according to the factory measurement records in 7 points in each factory, with a mean of 70.9±10.4 and 76.3±8.9 dB in factory 1 and 2 respectively. Light measurements were from 200-500 lux in five points and six points respectively in factory 1 and 2 according to the factory measurement records in 8 points in each factory, with a mean of 328.25±152.8 lux and 466.5±303.9 lux in factory 1 and 2 respectively. The checklist items of safety measures showed that electrical safety measures were the most item to be covered (85.7%) followed by medical examinations (83.3%), storage and warehouses item was the last item to be covered (16.7%).