Ergonomic Analysis of Environmental Conditions in Garment Manufacturing

Abstract: India has carved a name for itself as a globally renowned garment manufacturing center for its durability, quality and beauty. The textile and garment industry contributes about 14 % to industrial production, 5 % to GDP and 11 % to the country’s export earnings. This sector also provides employment to about 45 million people. However, various studies quote that India’s success in the global garments market has been at the cost of the basic rights of labor force especially the females and migrants. Karnataka is a major apparel sourcing destination for the global market. The garment industries in Karnataka are concentrated mostly in Bengaluru where some of the largest export houses of the country exist. From the systematic review of literature and interactions with the industry experts, it was understood that the work environment in a majority of the garment manufacturing industries is unsafe and unhealthy. The workstations are poorly designed with unsuitable furniture, lack of ventilation, inappropriate lighting, and excessive noise. This poor working environment adversely influences the performance of the workers which in turn reduces the productivity of the manufacturing units. This work deliberates on the environmental audit carried out in several sections of the garment industry to see if the working environment is favorable to the workers. Environmental parameters such as noise level, illumination and temperature were measured using instruments such as sound level meter, luxmeter and hand held thermometer and were compared against OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards. The study revealed that the workstations were designed with congeste