Visit to Kash Garments

Chamila Harshanie Balasooriya
FMS/R/2834

Group B
15/08/2012

During the first week of the community medicine appointment, the visit which I liked most is a visit to a garment factory, known as “KASH GARMENT”. Kash garment is situated in Pepilliyana.There are about 300 people are working in the factory. Manager told that most of the workers were from remote areas far away from Pepilliyana. Normally workers are working nearly 10 hours.(from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.)Employees are having holidays on weekends and public holidays. There are 6 separate sections in the garment. Storage sections, cutting, sewing, packing sections etc. Garment is only undertaking export orders. Major pollutants that are releasing to the environment from this factory are heat, small dust particles (pieces of thread), and large particles of clothes.

Waste management-waste clothes sold for making patch work etc. Collecting general waste as bio degradable and non degradable in a separate manner and waste can be hand over to municipal council for recycling.

Positive aspects that I noticed with regard to the health of the employees.  

ü  Before giving a job, management is reporting the status of previous illnesses.

ü  Workers are getting protective equipments like masks, gloves, aprons, goggles etc.

ü  Smoking is prohibited inside the factory.

ü  Factory was well lit.

ü  Boilers were placed outside due to safety measurements.

ü  To improve mental well being of the employers, committee is arranging trips, and other festivals. Radio is on while working which will relax the mind of the workers.

Welfare services those are available for the workers.

·         There is a welfare society in the garment where the office bearers are elected by the members.

·         Members contribute 75/= per month from their monthly salary, for welfare society.

·         In a sudden death of a family member a donation of 30000/= will be given by the welfare committee.

·         Factory maintains a sick room for the welfare of the employees. First aid box is also there in the working area.

·         Employees get medical leaves according to the severity of the illness.

·         In a case of a severe illness transport is given to CSTH.

·         During night shifts, employees are getting transport facilities from the institution.

·         Toilet facilities are adequate, (1 for 20 people), with enough taps for drinking water.

·         Employees are entitled to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) , Employees Trust Fund (ETF).

·         Employees are getting 14 days as leave per year, in addition to normal holidays.

·         After a delivery, lady employee gets a paid leave for 3 months.

·         Duration of 30 minutes will be given for the lunch and 15 minutes each for tea in the morning and afternoon is given.

Negative points that I noticed during the visit.

v  Although safety equipments are given to workers they haven’t advised how to and when to use them properly.

v  There were no drugs in the first aid box.

v  Huge noise was coming from machines.

v  Though fans were on there was no proper ventilation inside the factory.

v  Dinning hall was not cleaned enough for dinning, there were small collections of water, which provides breeding sites for mosquitoes.