Impact of Heat, Noise, Dust, and Chemical Handling on Workers' Health in Sweater Garment Industries

Bangladesh earns the second-highest revenue from the RMG sector, which is the backbone of the national economy, with sweater manufacturing comprising a large share of labour and production. A mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from 450 workers across 15 factories in both Dhaka and Chattogram with qualitative insights from factory management and local stakeholders. The research reported that bad OHS practices long working hours, high concentrations of air pollution, high noise and heat levels. Even among workers reporting "good" health, respiratory symptoms and allergies were common and can be attributed to dust and textile particles. Worsening the above was exposure to extreme heat within the factory (with temperatures exceeding 40°C, Stronger enforcement of labor laws, more consistent health monitoring, and better safety practices at workplaces are the solutions the study suggests. The consequences of weaker safety cultures and inadequate policy implementation, demonstrating the urgent need to strengthen both to protect the health of workers.