Track: Women in Industry and Academia

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the largest readymade garment based exporter earning countries of the South East Asia. Fire accident of garments industry is one of the major problems in Bangladesh where 90% of women are working in this sector. The objective of this study is to investigate the major risk factors associated with accident related burn injuries and its consequences on disabled women workers lives. The study was conducted at Tazreen garments industry where 128 people died and thousands of workers injured due to fire accident in 2013. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques such as questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, FGDs and case study methods were used. The study result shows that 65% were become physically disabled, 14% become mentally disabled and 10% of were sight disabled. Out of total victims 55% were suffered of sexual disabilities. Many of the victims had completely shaken under the misery of financial and psychosocial vulnerability. The fire has broken into pieces of their dreams and aims. The owners and workers associations, Government, NGOs and donners should address the problems through appropriate integrated fire related accident prevention intervention.