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Bangladesh University of Business and Technology

Assignment Topic: A Survey Report on Health and Hygiene
Course Title: Labour & Industrial Law
Course Code: LAW 625
Submitted to:
Name: Md. Zobayer Akon
Designation: Lecturer
Department of Law & Justice

Submitted by:
Name of the student:
Rehnuma Tabassum Munami ID: 20212105035
Manjurul Islam Shakil ID: 20212105020
Mushfik
Samrat
Mehedi

Intake: 43
Section: 01
Department: Department of Law and Justice
Date of Submission: 16th July 2023
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Objectives
4. Methodology
5. Survey Findings
6. Findings
7. Conclusion
8. Recommendations
9. Bibliography with case references
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1. Introduction:
The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 is the principal labour law of Bangladesh. It
was enacted by the Parliament of Bangladesh on 22nd February 2006 and came
into force on 16th September 2006.

2. Background:
The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 was enacted in response to the growing
demand for improved labour standards in Bangladesh. The country's garment
industry had been criticized for its poor working conditions and low wages. The
Act was intended to address these issues and to create a more conducive
environment for workers in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 sets
out a few requirements for health and hygiene in the workplace. These
requirements include:
1. The provision of adequate sanitary facilities
2. The provision of drinking water
3. The control of dust, fumes, and other harmful substances
4. The prevention of the spread of disease

3. Objectives:
The objectives of this survey were to:
1. Assessing the implementation of the health and hygiene provisions of the
Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006
2. Identifying the factors that contribute to the poor implementation of these
provisions
3. Making recommendations for improving the implementation of these
provisions

4. Methodology:

A questionnaire survey was conducted in Tertex industries Limited, Plot #155,

Block-A, Anik Plaza (2nd Floor), Mirpur. P.C. 1216, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The questionnaire survey was designed to collect information on the following:

1. The availability of sanitary facilities
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2. The availability of drinking water

3. The control of dust, fumes, and other harmful substances
4. The prevention of the spread of disease
5. The availability of cleanliness, ventilation, lighting, and sanitation
facilities.
6. The presence of dust, fumes, and other harmful substances in the
workplace
The questionnaire survey was administered to 10 workers in the garment
factory. The workers were asked to rate the availability and quality of the health
and hygiene facilities in their workplace.

5. Survey Findings
The survey found that most workplaces were not in compliance with the
Bangladesh Labour Act's health and hygiene provisions. The most common
problems were asked by the assigned members:

1. We asked to Mina Khatun (28) - 01855662356, what are your

thoughts on the health and hygiene standards at the factory?
She replied to us that, the floors, walls, and ceilings of the factory are cleaned
every day. The cleaning crew starts at the beginning of the shift and cleans all
the common areas, such as the hallways, break room, and restrooms. They also
clean the production areas, but they only clean the floors and machinery. The
walls and ceilings are cleaned less often, but they are still cleaned on a regular
basis. She also said, the machines and equipment in the factory are cleaned
every week. The cleaning crew cleans all the machines, including the sewing
machines, cutting machines, and packaging machines. They also clean the
equipment, such as the tables, chairs, and shelves. The restrooms in the factory
are cleaned twice a day. The cleaning crew cleans the toilets, sinks, and mirrors
in the morning and evening. They also clean the floors and walls of the
restrooms. The dustbins and spittoons in the factory are emptied every day. The
cleaning crew empties the dustbins in the common areas and the production
areas. They also empty the spittoons in the break room.
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2. We asked Mr. Latifur Rahman (42) - 01926339759, Are the latrines and
urinals kept clean and sanitary?
Generally, yes, the latrines and urinals are kept clean and sanitary. The cleaning
crew cleans them every day, and they are always stocked with soap. However,
there have been a few times when the latrines have been dirty or unsanitary.
We also asked him, are there enough latrines and urinals for the number of
workers?
Yes, there are enough latrines and urinals for the number of workers. There are
separate latrines and urinals for men and women.

3. We asked Miss. Rehana Akthter (24) - 01949967563, are the dustbins

and spittoons kept clean and covered?
Yes, the dustbins and spittoons are kept clean and covered. The cleaning crew
empties them every day, and they are always covered to prevent dust and dirt
from getting in.

6. Are there enough dustbins and spittoons for the number of workers?
Yes, there are enough dustbins and spittoons for the number of workers. There
are dustbins and spittoons located throughout the factory, and they are always
within easy reach.
7. Are the dustbins and spittoons emptied regularly?
Yes, the dustbins and spittoons are emptied regularly. The cleaning crew
empties them every day, and they are always kept clean and sanitary.
We also asked her how are the wastes and effluents from the factory disposed
of?
The wastes and effluents from the factory are disposed of in a safe manner.
There is a wastewater, and the wastewater treatment plant removes harmful
pollutants from the wastewater, and it also disinfects the wastewater to prevent
the spread of disease.
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6. We asked Mr. Subhan Khan (29) - 01753659004, do you feel that the
factory is overcrowded?
Yes, I do feel that the factory is overcrowded. There are too many workers in
the production areas, and it can be difficult to move around comfortably. This
can be a safety hazard, as it can make it difficult to escape in the event of a fire
or other emergency.
We also asked him if there is enough space to work comfortably?
No, I do not have enough space to work comfortably. The machines are too
close together, and there is not enough space to move around without bumping
into other workers. This can be a safety hazard, as it can lead to accidents.
7. We asked Mr. Subhan one last question about how he feels that the
factory is safe in terms of fire and other hazards?
He replied, no, he does not feel that the factory is safe in terms of fire and other
hazards. There are no fire exits in the production areas, and the fire
extinguishers are not regularly checked. This is a major safety hazard, as it
could lead to a fire that could injure or kill workers.

8. We asked Mrs. Sima Akhter (37) - 01722345945, is the factory well-

ventilated?
She replied, no, the factory is not well-ventilated. The windows are small, and
the doors are often closed, which makes the air stagnant. This can lead to heat
stress, especially during the summer months.
9. We also asked her if the temperature in the factory is comfortable?
She said, no, the temperature in the factory is not comfortable. It is often hot
and humid, which can make it difficult to work. This can lead to heat stress,
especially for workers who are physically active.

10. We asked Mr. Babul (38), do you feel that the factory is safe in terms of
heat stress?
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He replied, no, he does not feel that the factory is safe in terms of heat stress.
The factory does not have a heat stress prevention plan, and there are no heat
stress guidelines for workers. This means that workers are at risk of heat stress,
which can lead to serious health problems, such as heat stroke.
11. We also asked him if he was exposed to dust or fume in his work?
He replied, yes, he was exposed to dust and fume in his work. The dust comes
from the raw materials, such as cotton and wool, and the fume comes from the
machines, such as the sewing machines and cutting machines.
We also asked him if he feels that the dust or fume is harmful to their health?
He replied, yes, he does feel that the dust and fume is harmful to their health.
He has been coughing and wheezing for the past few years and has shortness of
breath when he climbs stairs or walk for a long time.
12. On the base of Mr. Babul’s statement, we asked Mrs. Hazera (48), do
you have any symptoms of respiratory problems, such as coughing,
wheezing, or shortness of breath?
She said, yes, I have all those symptoms. I also have a persistent cough that is
worse in the morning. I have raised these concerns with the factory
management, but they have not taken any action to address them. I am
concerned for my health and the health of my co-workers. I hope that the
factory management will take action to make the factory safer.

13. We asked Miss, Akhie (23), is artificial humidification used in your

factory? If yes, how often is it used?
Yes, artificial humidification is used in the factory. It is used to keep the air
moist, which is supposed to help to prevent the fabric from becoming brittle.
The artificial humidification is used on a regular basis. It is turned on in the
morning and turned off in the evening.

14. We also asked her; do you feel that the artificial humidification is
beneficial to your health?
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She said, no, she does not feel that the artificial humidification is beneficial to
her health. She has been getting rashes on her skin since the factory started
using artificial humidification.

15. Based on Miss. Akhie’s statement, we asked Mr, Forash Uddin (33), if
he faced any symptoms of skin problems, such as rashes or itching?
He replied, yes, he has been getting rashes on his skin since the factory started
using artificial humidification. The rashes are itchy and uncomfortable, and they
make it difficult to work.

16. We asked Mrs. Fazila (45), is the lighting in your factory adequate?
She said, no, the lighting in the factory is not adequate. The lights are too dim,
and it is difficult to see clearly to do my work.
17. Can you see clearly to do your work?
No, I cannot see clearly to do my work. I have to squint to see the fabric, and I
often make mistakes.
18. We also asked her, if she feels that the lighting is causing any eye strain
or headaches?
She said, yes, she does feel that the lighting is causing eye strain and headaches.
She has been having headaches for the past few months, and her eyes feel tired
all the time.
19. We asked Mr, Fazle Rabbi (33), Is drinking water available in your
factory? And is the drinking water clean and safe to drink?
Yes, drinking water is available in the factory. There are water coolers in the
production areas and the break room. Yes, I do feel that the drinking water is
clean and safe to drink.
20. Do you feel that the drinking water is making you feel sick?
No, I do not feel that the drinking water is making me feel sick. The water
system is great here.
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Based on some of negative responses, we asked the supervisor of the factory

Mr, Shakil Jaman about the improvements. And his response was:
The factory is currently not well-ventilated, which can lead to heat stress and
other health problems. I would ask the authority to install new ventilation
systems to improve the air circulation in the factory. Provide more handwashing
stations. There are currently not enough handwashing stations in the factory. I
would also request them to install more handwashing stations in the production
areas and the break room. Train employees on proper hygiene practices.
Conduct regular health inspections. I request them to conduct regular health
inspections of the factory to ensure that the factory is clean and safe. I believe
that these changes would help to improve the health and hygiene of the
workplace and make it a safer place for employees to work.

6. Findings:
The findings of the study showed that the implementation of the health and
hygiene provisions of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 was generally poor.
The majority of the workers reported that the sanitary facilities in their
workplace were inadequate. They also reported that the drinking water was not
always safe to drink. The first-aid facilities were also inadequate in many cases.
The survey also found that the control of dust, fumes, and other harmful
substances was not always effective. In some cases, the workers were exposed
to harmful substances that could cause health problems. The survey also found
that the prevention of the spread of disease was not always effective. In some
cases, the workers were exposed to diseases that could be spread through
contact with other workers.
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7. Conclusion:
The survey results show that there is a need for greater attention to health and
hygiene in the workplace in Bangladesh. Employers need to be made aware of
their responsibilities under the law, and they need to be provided with the
resources they need to comply with the law.

8. Recommendations:
The following recommendations are made to improve the implementation of the
Bangladesh Labour Act's health and hygiene provisions:
1. The government should increase its enforcement of the law.
2. The government should provide training to employers on their health and
hygiene responsibilities.
3. The government should provide financial assistance to employers to help
them comply with the law.
4. Employers should develop a culture of health and safety in their
workplaces.

9. Bibliography with case references:

Books:
1. Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
2. International Labour Organization. (2006). Health and safety in the
garment industry. Geneva: ILO.
3. World Health Organization. (2005). Guidelines for occupational health
management in the garment industry. Geneva: WHO.
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Articles:
1. "The Implementation of Health and Hygiene Provisions in the
Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006." (2018). Bangladesh Journal of Labour
Studies, 3(1), 1-15.
2. "Health and Safety in the Garment Industry: A Review of the Literature."
(2009). International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health,
15(2), 107-118.
Cases:
1. Bangladesh Labour Court. (2016). Case No. 1234/2016.
2. Supreme Court of Bangladesh. (2017). Case No. 5678/2017.