A Study on Employee Perception of Health and Safety Practices in Knitting Industries

Abstract

Occupational health and safety are critical components in ensuring employee well-being, operational efficiency, and overall productivity, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as the knitting industry. This study evaluates employee awareness, perception, and satisfaction regarding workplace safety measures in the knitting industry. By utilizing structured questionnaires and statistical tools like ANOVA, chi-square tests, regression, and correlation analysis, the study investigates the effectiveness of current safety practices, the prevalence of workplace hazards, and the relationship between safety training and health outcomes. The findings indicate that while basic safety protocols exist, their effectiveness varies across demographic factors such as income, designation, and educational background. Notably, the frequency of safety training does not significantly reduce health issues, suggesting the need for a more integrated and proactive safety culture. The study concludes with targeted recommendations to enhance safety practices through tailored training, technological interventions, and employee-centric policy enhancements.

Introduction

Occupational health and safety (OHS) are critical for protecting workers and enhancing productivity, especially in industries involving machinery and physical labor like the knitting sector. Workers in knitting face risks such as dust, chemicals, long hours, ergonomic problems, noise, and machinery hazards. Without proper controls, these risks can cause injuries, illnesses, and low job satisfaction. Industries implement safety measures like PPE, machine guards, ventilation, fire safety, and training, but the success of these depends on employee awareness, compliance, and perception of these policies.

This study focuses on evaluating employee awareness, the effectiveness of safety practices, common workplace hazards, and worker satisfaction within knitting firms. It aims to identify gaps in safety enforcement and provide recommendations to improve safety and productivity.

The research uses descriptive design and simple random sampling of 120 knitting industry employees, collecting data through questionnaires, interviews, observations, and secondary sources. Data analysis involves statistical tools like SPSS to identify trends and correlations.

Key limitations include the study’s focus solely on knitting industries, potential response bias, time constraints, and variations in safety protocols across companies.

A literature review highlights various occupational hazards in textiles such as chemical exposure, noise, ergonomic issues, and poor shift patterns. Prior studies emphasize the need for stronger safety enforcement, employee training, and health monitoring to reduce risks and improve worker well-being and satisfaction.

Data analysis revealed no significant relationship between supervisor safety checks and training frequency, but a significant association between employees’ monthly income and frequency of safety training programs.

Conclusion

The study’s findings suggest that traditional safety measures such as training frequency, supervision, and hazard awareness alone do not significantly impact workplace health issues. This indicates that other underlying factors may be influencing employee well-being, requiring a more in-depth analysis. While organizations may already have safety protocols in place, their effectiveness depends on how well employees understand and implement them in real situations. To improve workplace safety, companies must adopt a comprehensive and employee-centric approach that goes beyond compliance. A combination of personalized training, proactive hazard identification, technological advancements, and employee engagement can create a safer work environment. Investing in advanced safety tools, fostering open communication, and continuously reassessing safety strategies can lead to a sustainable reduction in workplace health issues and enhance overall employee well-being.

References

[1] Godakanda, I., Gamage, M., & Amarasinghe, N. (2023). Occupational health and safety in the textile industry. Journal of Research in Technology and Engineering, 4(4), 127–140. Retrieved from ResearchGate. [2] Shaikh, M. A., Weiguo, S., Shahid, M. U., Ayaz, H., & Ali, M. (2018). An assessment of hazards and occupational health & safety practices for workers in the textile industry: A case study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(12), 333–347. [3] Verma, S., & Mishra, P. (2024). Impact of shift work on sleep quality and health among textile industry employees. Chronobiology International, 41(3), 356–364. [4] Singh, R., & Kaur, J. (2023). Occupational health risks among dyeing unit workers in textile industry. Journal of Occupational Health, 65(1), 45–53. [5] Singh, R., & Patel, A. (2023). Impact of safety policies on employee satisfaction in Indian garment factories. International Journal of Workplace Safety, 30(2), 115–127.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. M. P. Kumaran, Ms. Yalini M. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.