Assessing the physical working environments at the Malian Textile Company (COMATEX-SA), SEGOU

Abstract

Introduction: The physical environments at work expose workers to specific occupational risks and its related pathologies. They can permanently affect the health of employees, and compromise the productivity of the company. Our objective was to compare the factors of physical working environments at COMATEX-SA with the current international standards. Methodology: This was a normative assessment carried out in 2015 at the COMATEX-SA. The factors measured in the work environment were: noise, heat and humidity, light, cotton dust in 122 workstations. Results: Employees were under 40 in 69% with more than five years of work experience in 56,07%. In 67% of the workstations, the noise was excessive with extremes of up to 105 decibels compared to the standards adopted by the International Labor Office, which are below 85 decibels as a warning threshold and 90 decibels as a danger threshold. The measured heat level varied between 26 to 52 ° C and the humidity in the workshops was uncomfortable for heavy work (threshold selected for heavy work is 25°C and 26,7°C for average work and 30°C for light work, for 29% relative humidity RH). The amount of cotton dust in the ambient air at the workstations was 1.4 mg/cm3 to 2.2 mg/cm3. (lower threshold 0,2 mg/cm3). The amount of light supplied to each workstation was between 500 and 1000 lux. No effective personal protective equipment was used by the employees at the COMATEX-SA.Conclusion: This study revealed an enormous discrepancy in the physical work environments measured at the COMATEX-SA. The need to apply legal regulations in occupational health and safety is imperative in this company, if not at the cost of the ruin of the employees.
Key words: Textile, health at work, COMATEX-SA, Ségou