The courses, funded and accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), have been rolled out in ready-made garment factories in the developing world to keep workers out of harm’s way.
Meanwhile more inspections are being carried out as part of a greater focus on working conditions.
IOSH has welcomed such steps, but warned that more work needs to be done to prevent injuries and illnesses among factory staff.
Today (Friday 24 April 2015) is the second Fashion Revolution Day, an initiative designed to bring the industry together to raise awareness of the challenges it faces and planned to coincide with the anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013, which killed more than 1,100 workers.
That disaster was far from an isolated incident. For example there have been numerous fatal factory fires in Asian countries. These events led to fire safety expert Dr David Gold, a chartered member of IOSH, being asked to step in four years ago.
After being contacted by the Fair Labor Association, Dr Gold introduced a number of different courses around the issue of fire safety in Asian factories in countries such as Bangladesh and India.
He designed a ‘Workplace Fire Safety Facilitator’ course, with the idea that facilitators could run brief awareness-raising sessions for all workers in their own factory. He also produced a ‘Train the Trainer’ course to ensure that the latter programme could be rolled out.
Dr Gold added that both schemes were being expanded, not only in Asia but also in countries such as Brazil and Turkey, as part of an attempt to safeguard workers in every factory in the industry.
He said: “We are striving to make sure that in every factory there are people who can develop and promote a sustained fire safety culture. This strengthens the move to building a comprehensive occupational safety and health culture.
“We are building the foundation and the house from the bottom up. It has been a positive start, with the courses picking up quicker than expected. We have created a solid background.”
Shelley Frost, Executive Director of Policy at IOSH, said the organisation is keen to continue to work with businesses in the ready-made garment industry – many of them big brands – to enhance the work being done.
She 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.”
To look into further improvements that can be made, IOSH is hosting a roundtable discussion, called Ethical Fashion 2020: A New Vision for Transparency, in the Houses of Parliament, on 29 June. Guests will include bosses from some big-name fashion brands.
Shelley added: “Our aim is to also identify any new initiatives that could help health and safety progress in the garment industry.”
As well as improving fire safety and awareness, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Bangladesh Accord for Fire and Building Safety are actively inspecting ready-made garment factories, with some being partially or fully closed if found to be unsafe. Others have been instructed to undertake remediation work.
IOSH is supporting Fashion Revolution, which was set up following the Rana Plaza disaster.
Carry Somers, Founder of Fashion Revolution, 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.
“On 24 April, people in 68 countries will ask brands and retailers #whomademyclothes? challenging them to take responsibility for the people and communities on which their businesses depend.”
Image: Fashion Revolution Day raises awareness of working conditions in chain factories and coincides with the anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013, which killed more than 1,100 workers.