Cambodia’s Labour Ministry has outlined new guidelines to prevent factory workers in the country’s apparel and footwear industries from fainting at work.
The 11 guidelines, which have been drawn up in an effort to reduce the stimuli causing workers to faint, include keeping buildings well ventilated and making sure workers remain hydrated, according to a report published by the Khmer Times last week.
Announced by Labor Minister Ith Samheng, the advice also calls for checks to be performed both inside and outside the factory, especially before allowing workers to enter, and says ventilation fans inside the workplace must be turned on and should be operating at least one hour before workers arrive.
Meanwhile, all windows and doors should be open when the weather is hot, and airflow must not be restricted at building exits.
All factories must have thermostats installed and all fire protection systems must be checked and maintained to ensure the equipment is functional, while factories with boilers must have them installed following proper protocols and boiler operators must be adequately trained.
“They must have an infirmary and emergency help in the factory,” Samheng added. “Provide plenty of clean water for workers to drink, educate workers how to evacuate in an emergency and teach them to understand safety signs in the workplace.
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By GlobalData“The Labour Ministry will take strong action through the Labour Law and other regulations against factory owners and directors who abuse these guidelines.”
Deputy secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers’ Association in Cambodia (GMAC), Kaing Monika, told the Khmer Times the group has been working closely with its members to reduce the likelihood of fainting.
“GMAC takes the guidelines seriously and will further disseminate this within our members,” the report quoted Monika as saying. “While we appreciate the guidelines, GMAC has long been active in this work as a member of the Labour Ministry’s committee for the study and prevention of fainting incidents since 2012.
“We work with the committee in almost all of the fact-finding missions immediately after a fainting incident happens.”
According to the article, Monika noted that half of the fainting issues studied, based on a National Social Security Fund report, were the result of mass psychological illness, including personal stress coming from family issues, panic and mass hysteria.
He added that fainting from chemical ingestion was mainly caused by external factors, such as the spraying of pesticides by farmers in surrounding rice fields.
