Work and Smile... Lead to Healthy Life!!

Dinushka U. Dantanarayana
15th August 2012
1st Post

Work and Smile... Lead to Healthy Life!!

Many times I have wondered how those beautiful dresses and elegant trousers come to the shops and department stores. So I was looking forward to the visit to the Garment Factory and witness the process of giving “birth” to all these clothes and stuff.

It was the 3^rd day of the clerkship program. I was beginning to realize that this appointment differs greatly from any other clinical appointment I have done and promised more and more surprises and different life experiences in the days to come.

Upon entering the “Kash Garments” at Papiliyana, a familiar song from the late Clarence Wijewardena struck my ears. Clearly the employees seemed to get lively with the musical voice of him.

A well-lit and clean inside caught my eyes, apart from the piles and piles of boxes placed one upon another.. threatening to fall off and hit some innocent workers head!!

We moved from one area to another, and from one floor to another,  separated in order for storing, cutting, ironing, sewing, checking clothes, packing, etc.…  I was thankful to see the‘ No-Smoking” sign displayed  both at outside and inside the building.

Cutting workers wore special protection gloves made of metal. Others were wearing face masks, goggles, aprons according to their part of work.. But I noticed apart from the majority, a few employees' masks were hanging below their mouths and noses which made me wonder how in the world they get protection from the dust and various allergens!!

About 300 employees work in the factory during 8.30a.m to 6pm. A bus is provided for the transport of those who are in the night shift. Most of the employees are young, starting to earn their life’s worth by serving their country in silence.

The dining hall was in the uppermost floor, quite spacious and would accommodate about 100 workers at a given time. The lunch was brought from an outside place and given at a reasonable price. About twelve toilets serve the employees’ sanitary needs. As we walked through the hall I heard our PHI give instructions to the staff to clean the balcony, which I saw had a one inch thick layer of water collected in the balcony floor due to the recent rains..

I admired the well-organized fire alarm system which included Assembly points,  fire extinguishes for each separate area, outside spiral staircases and posters on instructions on how to act and where to go in an emergency.

The sick room comprised of two beds and some basic medicine and first aid and was run by a fully qualified nurse.

          

The employees have their own welfare society. It organizes special events for Aurudu, Christmas, etc. and annual trips as well. So in overall, I was happy with the services provided by the factory authorities in contribution to promote ‘Occupational Health’.