The fibre textile industry in Viet Nam has recently been undergoing a period of renovation. Especially in enterprises with foreign investment capital, new technology is being adopted, and modern machinery on revamped production lines is resulting in increased productivity.

Increased productivity should provide adequate resources to address problems with worker health, especially among women, and with working conditions. With this in mind, we present the results of the 1997-1998 study, "Assessment of working conditions and setting up a model of illness and health among female workers in the fibre textile industry".

• assess main indicators of working conditions in some fibre textile enterprises in Viet Nam
• conduct a survey of worker health and illness
• suggest, implement, and monitor measures to improve working conditions and health among female workers

• 3 enterprises in the North; 1 enterprise in Central Viet Nam; and 3 enterprises in the South (6 out of a total of 64 similar enterprises in the whole country)

Random multi-stage and cluster samplings were taken from a total of 16,399 persons from all 6 enterprises: the Hanoi Textile Company (5,360) and the 8/3 Textile Company (3,629) from the North; the Hue Textile Company (1,793) from Central Viet Nam; and the Thanh Cong Textile Company (4,351), the Viet Thang Textile Company (4,144), and the Long Phu Textile Company (2,989) from the South.

2 years (1997-1998)

40 million VND in government funds

• teachers from the Occupational Health Department, Community Health Faculty, Hanoi Medical University (HAMU)
• researchers from the Occupational Hygiene and Ergonomics Department, National Institute of Labour Protection (NILP)
• medical staff from the fibre textile industry

• epidemiological and cross-section studies
• measuring working environment: micro-climate (t^o,j , v, ET), toxic gases: SO₂, CO, CO₂, NOx, H₂S, NaOH; intensity of luminance (e); respirable dust (p); noise levels (N); and equipment
• general clinical health check-ups and diagnostic tests; applying national standards for occupational diseases
• in-depth interviews, direct observation, group discussions, and free association
• EPI INFO 6.0 computer analysis of available data and statistical tests used in health care

Workplace temperatures. Measurements showed that 54.17 per cent of all work positions had were hotter than the national standard by 0.8 to 2.9 ^oC.

Average humidity. All work positions had average humidity levels from 6 per cent to 26 per cent lower than the national standard, which was good for production.

Air velocity. At 1.5m/s that at 90 per cent as required by production.

Temperature effects. These were about 3/5 that at 59.6 per cent as required by production.

Intensity of luminance. All work positions exceeded the national standard by 20 to 150 lux.

Dust. General dust measured 2-3 mg/m3, and respirable dust (p 5m ) measured 0.08-0.26mg/m3 (the national standard allows 3mg/m3).

Noise levels. At 4,000 Hz, 45.83 per cent of all work positions had noise levels exceeding the national standard by 0.4 to 12.9 dBA (National standard; 90dBA). This is a significant problem.

Toxic gases. Levels of SO₂, CO, CO₂, NOx, H₂S and NaOH were lower than the national standard levels.

• More than half of the work positions were hot and noisy (exceeding allowable levels).
• Lighting intensity was good. With average intensity of work, speed of operations, and level of attention to work being very high, the level of glare luminance is planned to increase to 500 lux.
• In Viet Nam, no national standard for cotton dust exists, and it is difficult to diagnose related occupational disease (bionosis) among workers exposed to such dust.
• Toxic gas concentrations were low, but, in combination with other factors, they may nevertheless effect worker health.

The number of female textile workers was 3/4 of the total workers (n_f = 12,300 and n_m = 4,099), which breaks down in the following way:

• Age: < 30 years, 30 per cent; 30-40 years, 46 per cent; and > 40 years, 21 per cent
• Working age: < 10 years, 31 per cent; 11-20 years, 48.5 per cent; and > 20, 20.5 per cent

Young female workers constituted one-third of the total; aged workers, one-fifth.

The results of the survey indicated the following:

Category I, 10 per cent; category II, 19.9 per cent; category III, 60 per cent; category IV, 10 per cent and category V, 0.1 per cent.

Results of the periodical health check-up showed that the rate of respiratory illnesses was greater than 80 per cent; lower back pain ran at 60 per cent; headache at 40 per cent, musculo-skeletal disorders at 35 per cent; heart pain at 30 per cent; eye illnesses at 25 per cent; gynaecological disease a 42 per cent; and digestive disorder (RLTH) at 40 per cent.

• Occupational diseases: 0.1 per cent (12 persons including 9 with hearing loss, 1 with bionosis, 1 with skin disease, and 1 with bronchitis (VPQ)).
• Accidents at work: 1.4 per cent

Frequency of health check-ups among workers is low. Absences from work due to illness per year is low – 3.56 in general and, for female workers in particular, 3.73.

• Repair of old dust collectors and installation of new.
• Toxic gas countermeasures. Despite the fact that the concentration of toxic gases is lower than that allowed by the national standard, measures should be taken to reduce their potential impact on health.
• Cotton dust countermeasures. Viet Nam has not yet established a national standard regarding cotton dust.
• Reduce the impact of noise. Some enterprises have adopted new technology to reduce industrial noise, but levels still tend to be too high. More technical countermeasures and PPE such as earplugs are recommended.
• Increased OSH education and training.
• Increased control and monitoring of the working environment. This is especially important for the improvement of working conditions and health among female workers.
• Installation of air-conditioners and industrial fans, applying both natural and artificial air-conditioning measures.

Improved working conditions help to prevent such illnesses as bronchitis, throat infections, and pneumonosis (80 per cent of reported health problems). Lower back pain (60 per cent) might be alleviated by ergonomic workplace improvements as well as rest periods and physical exercise during the work shift. Gynaecological diseases (42 per cent) should be diagnosed and treated earlier.

The research achieved its aims: OSH measures and worker health have subsequently improved. The participation of social organizations, especially those representing the worker community (and female workers) has been very important, contributing much to the successful completion of this research.

1. MOLISA. Joint circular on the implementation of OSH activities.
2. MOH. Regulations on hygiene and health care.
3. Nguyen Dinh Dung. Working conditions and worker health: Medical service in the textile industry.
4. The governmental introduction on the implementation of the law on environmental protection (October, 1994).
5. National Institute of Medical Expertise. Standards for health check-up for school children and employees (1997).

Updated by PAP/SUT/TRS. Approved by BKL. Last updated on 21 November 2000