An Investigation of Work-Related Risk Factors Among Sewing Machine Operators in Bangladesh

Working extended periods of time in front of sewing machines may cause discomfort to the operators of sewing machines. Sewing machine operators sit for extended periods of time and use their hands to control, handle, or feel objects and tools in repetitive processes which makes them vulnerable to musculoskeletal symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among sewing machine operators working in the apparel industry in Bangladesh while considering job characteristics, productivity, job satisfaction, workstation design, and working environment. The results showed that working in front of the sewing machines for a long period of time might cause musculoskeletal problems for the sewing machine operators in Bangladesh which is consistent with previous studies. Further, the environment of the sewing machine rooms, job characteristics, and workstation design were not satisfactory in some cases and might impact participants’ health

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

An Investigation of Work-Related Risk Factors Among Sewing Machine Operators in Bangladesh

Working extended periods of time in front of sewing machines may cause discomfort to the operators of sewing machines. Sewing machine operators sit for extended periods of time and use their hands to control, handle, or feel objects and tools in repetitive processes which makes them vulnerable to musculoskeletal symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among sewing machine operators working in the apparel industry in Bangladesh while considering job characteristics, productivity, job satisfaction, workstation design, and working environment. The results showed that working in front of the sewing machines for a long period of time might cause musculoskeletal problems for the sewing machine operators in Bangladesh which is consistent with previous studies. Further, the environment of the sewing machine rooms, job characteristics, and workstation design were not satisfactory in some cases and might impact participants’ health.</p

Investigating social and labor sustainability performance of fashion production facilities: a case study from developing country

To achieve the sustainable development goal (SDG), it is necessary to reduce inequalities in facilities social and labor activities and decent workplaces to ensure economic growth. While the number of the published research works on measuring the eco-indices of fashion products and facilities are plenty, no significant work has been presented on measuring the sustainability of social and labor performance. Therefore, this article investigates the social and labor sustainability performance of two fashion factories: a knit factory (Factory A) and a denim factory (Factory B). The Higg Index Facility Social and Labor Module (FSLM) by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) were applied to measure the scores. Three (3) sections in the Facility Module-Social and Labor were considered. Section 1 offers factory performance values out of 391 for (a) recruitment and hiring, (b) compensation, (c) working hours, (d) employee engagement and communication, (e) employee treatment and development, (f) health and pay, and (g) termination and retrenchment. Section 2 offers a performance values score 125 points in the Facility's Labor and Workplace Performance Management for the Value Chain. Section 3 indicates values out of 78 on (a) external participation and cooperation, (b) community effect, and (3) transparency and public disclosure. Based on qualitative short questionnaires, data were generated for each sub-section of FSLM. The result shows high-level to low-level performance scores for both factories covering a diverse aspect. Overall social performance score achieved for both factory cases was 384 (factory A) and 394 (factory B) out of a total of 594. Among these, section 1 provides scores of 264 (factory A) and 275 (factory B); section B provides value score 80 and 79, and section 3 give scores 40 and 40 in both facility cases, respectively. The study reveals technical, managerial, and contextual limitations on social and labor performance in both knit and denim factories. The findings have important theoretical and practical implications and could be extended to other fashion production facilities across the fashion supplier countries. Overall, findings will help fashion stakeholders, especially factory practitioners, brands, retailers, academics, and researchers, to reformulate their strategic approaches and current practices to improve social and labor performances. We suggest factory practitioners, including academics and researchers, focus on how to improve the factory working environment, social issues and other disparities in order to drive the fashion industry to be more sustainable across the multi-tier supply chain

Mapping Environmentally Sustainable Practices in the Textiles, Apparel and Fashion Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

Purpose: this paper reviews the literature on environmentally sustainable practices in textile, apparel and fashion (TAF) industries to allow the mapping of practices across various manufacturing processes and the development of a conceptual framework to guide investigation of the extent of sustainable practices in TAF industries from an environmental perspective.Design/methodology/approach: a systematic literature review was undertaken, consisting of bibliometric and content analysis of 91 articles published in peer-reviewed journals over a 10-year period.Findings: the inclusion of sustainable practices from all manufacturing stages in this review illustrates the diversity and complexities of environmental practices in TAF contexts. However, there is less research in developing country contexts, where most TAF production takes place and a paucity of research in upstream stages of garment washing and dyeing, and the manufacture of trims, accessories and packaging.Research limitations/implications: the focus is on environmental sustainability and upstream manufacturing processes. The review includes literature in the form of academic journal articles from selected databases during the period January 2010–June 2020.Practical implications: this review provides academics with a unified depiction of environmentally sustainable practices to stimulate further scholarly research and provides guidance for managers to develop firm sustainability competency by summarising best practices at different manufacturing stagesOriginality/value: this review comprehensively maps the academic literature on environmentally sustainable practices in TAF industries from an upstream manufacturing operations context. It highlights the contribution of scholarly study to the knowledge base on environmentally sustainable practices in TAF industries