With much of fashion’s supply base located in and around Asia and Africa, one of the biggest concerns is the impact of extreme heat which is escalating as a result of the climate crisis and impacting factory worker wellbeing.

Workers in the apparel and textiles industries are considered highly vulnerable to extreme heat.  

Researchers from the Global Labour Studies Institute at Cornell University suggest that by 2030 workers in Dhaka’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) factories could face 65 lost working days per year due to heat, and the combination of extreme heat and flooding could cost the Bangladeshi RMG industry $27bn, and lead to the loss of 255,000 jobs. 

Using its member Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA) as a case study, the ETI has detailed the steps it has taken to mitigate the risks its workers face from the 40-degree temperatures it commonly sees in Ghana.

1. Encourage social dialogue between leadership and workers

Workers at the Koforidua factory are represented by worker committees: one for shop-floor workers, one for middle-managers and one for senior managers. The committees are very active, including on issues related to ergonomics, health and safety and heat. EAA’s CEO finds their insights into what is needed and what will work – and what won’t work – invaluable. One simple recommendation from the worker committees was to provide a shaded area in the factory grounds to enable workers to enjoy their break times outside, even during times of high temperature.  

2. Invest in affordable clean energy

The factory is a metal warehouse structure with a high ceiling. As such it gets very hot inside, but the size and height of the unit make air conditioning units ineffective. When EAA became majority owners, they recognised that other cooling solutions were needed. Ghana’s electricity grid provides a reliable supply, but costs are high. Therefore, EAA invested in 160 solar panels to generate their own electricity (total 211 kWp*). The solar system is on a lease-to-own contract which costs no more than electricity bills were previously. Generating their own electricity has been an enabling factor in several other changes.

3. Ensure cooling and air flow

EAA invested in a heat extraction system. Fans positioned high up factory walls draw rising hot air out of the factory, creating an air flow as cooler air from outside is drawn in. At its peak this system reduces indoor air temperature by 3-4 degrees Celsius. This is a significant improvement however the system is less effective when outdoor temperatures are higher. So, in addition EAA repositioned the factory’s existing fans to make them more effective for workers. Previously fans were located high in the ceiling, EAA repositioned them to the level of the buzz bars above workstations, so workers benefit from the air flow.

4. Provide access to hydration

The factory has a water borehole linked to a filtration system. Workers have access to cooled water throughout the day and are encouraged to fill their water bottles at the end of rest breaks and to keep these with them at their workstations. Although water scarcity is not an issue locally, access to filtered water is costly, so workers are encouraged to fill water containers for their home-use.

5. Identify vulnerable workers

Annual health checks are offered to all staff. These are conducted by an in-house nurse working with external doctors. Health is a very private matter in Ghana and so initially staff were cautious about taking-up this opportunity. A lot of trust building was needed, but the initiative is now popular and workers understand the importance of prevention. With workers’ permission, the health checks have enabled EAA to identify staff who are more vulnerable to heat and ensure their work is adjusted appropriately – these include workers with underlying health conditions or illnesses, as well as pregnancy. Vulnerable workers can be assigned to lines within the factory’s cooled zone or moved off lines which involve manipulating heavy bulky items that are harder to lift and move. 

6. Provide cooled zones within the factory

By building internal partition walls and an internal ceiling within the factory, a smaller enclosed area has been created where temperatures can be further lowered through cooling devices such as fans. This area is used for the small modular lines which require fewer workers working on simpler products. During times of high temperature, vulnerable workers are transferred to this line.

7. Assess risks from potential changes to shift patterns

To date, no changes have been made to shift patterns during periods of extreme heat. This may become advisable in future, but EAA’s leadership recognises that travelling outside of daylight hours could increase safety risks for workers, especially women. Their longer-term ambition is to provide safe, night transport options for all workers, such as company buses.

The ETI explains that not all the examples from Koforidua will be relevant to factories in other parts of the world and solutions will always be highly contextual, however what is common across locations is the need for social dialogue with workers and their representatives to understand needs and priorities and to ensure effective implementation. 

“New technologies and adaptations to business operations will be required in many locations, but without consultation and engagement with workers we risk unintended consequences including, potentially, resistance. Ethical Apparel Africa’s approach to mitigating the impacts of extreme heat on working conditions of its employees illustrates the value of a worker-centric approach. As our planet warms and risks to workers from periods of extreme heat become more commonplace and severe, businesses must take every action to prevent and mitigate impacts on workers in their supply chains – a worker-centric approach is the only one which will be effective.”

By Just Style