Workers' Safety in Fashion Industry Needs to Improve

According to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), more needs to be done to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses amongst fashion industry factory workers.

Encouragingly, steps have already been taken with fire safety courses, which are funded and accredited by IOSH, having been rolled out in garment factories. Additionally, more safety inspections are being carried out in supply chain factories in a bid to improve working conditions for factory employees.

Despite the positive steps, IOSH's is calling for more action to be taken on the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory disaster – which on 24 April 2013 killed more than 1,100 workers in Bangladesh.

Commenting, Shelley Frost, who is the Executive Director of Policy at IOSH, said:

"Two years on from Rana Plaza, the case for corporate 'cultures of care' that protect all workers is still relevant and there are increasing examples that good health and safety is an investment, not a cost.

"That's why IOSH is keen to further engage with businesses in this sector, helping them to improve their workers' lives and thereby strengthen their reputations, resilience and results."

"Our aim is to also identify any new initiatives that could help health and safety progress in the garment industry. "

IOSH also supports Fashion Revolution Day, which raises awareness of working conditions in chain factories.

The, Founder of Fashion Revolution, Carry Somers, recently said:

"Fashion Revolution Day is calling for greater transparency in the global fashion supply chain in order to create a more ethical and sustainable future for fashion.

"We need to realise that buying is only the last step in a long journey involving hundreds of people: the invisible workforce behind the clothes we wear."

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