Workers in The Cotton Ginning Industry

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WORKERS IN THE COTTON GINNING


INDUSTRY

BY: HARSHIT GOEL


ROLL NUMBER: 1130
STREAM: B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
SUBMITTED TO: Dr.S.C.ROY

FINAL DRAFT SUBMITTED FOR THE SUBJECT LABOUR


LAW-II

CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY


PATNA
2

INDEX

Serial Topic Page Number


Number
1 INTRODUCTION 4

2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF 6
COTTON GINNERIES

3 7
HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH
COTTON DUST EXPOSURE

4 9
HEALTH MONITORING

5 11
MANAGEMENT OF WORKPLACE
ENVIROMENTAL HAZARD

6 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 14

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY 15
3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It's a fact that any research work prepared, compiled or formulated in isolation is inexplicable
to an extent. This research work, although prepared by the researcher, is a culmination of
efforts of a lot of people.

Firstly, I would like to thank our Teacher for giving such a topic to research which assisted
me in acquiring information as to the condition of workers in Cotton Industry. I would like to
thank him for his valuable suggestions towards the making of this project.

I cannot ignore the contributions made by my classmates and friends towards the completion
of this project work .And I would also like to express my gratitude towards the library staff of
my college who assisted me in acquiring the sources necessary for the compilation of my
project.

Thank You,

Harshit Goel,

Chanakya National Law University


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INTRODUCTION
India is the third largest producer of cotton in the world, accounting for ~14% of the global
cotton production. Over the last decade, India has achieved a significant quantitative increase
in cotton production. In 20002001, cotton fields in India covered 8.58 million ha, with a
mean yield of 278 kg/ha and total production of 14.0 million bales/year. By contrast, in 2010
2011, the area under cotton production was already 11.14 million ha, with a mean yield of
496 kg/ha and total production of 32.5 million bales/year. Consequently, India has now
sufficient surplus cotton to meet the requirements of importing countries 1. In India, 20 million
workers are involved in textile manufacturing 2, which is one of the oldest Indian industries.
Cotton ginning and pressing have been identified as a traditional industry under the
unorganized sector, which functions on a seasonal basis3. In the state of Maharashtra, India,
the textile industry is an important small-scale industry. In 20092010, the area under cotton
cultivation in the state was 3.5 million ha, with total production of 6.57 million bales/year and
a mean yield of 319 kg/ha. Jalgaon is a cotton-growing district in Maharashtra. The existence
of favorable factors, like availability of raw cotton, cheap labor, and means of transport in
Jalgaon, gave impetus to the development of cotton ginning, pressing, spinning, and
weaving4. Generally, workers of the local ginning factories are very poor and illiterate. As a
result, they are not fully aware of the negative impact of indoor air pollution and cotton dust
prevailing in the working environment on their health. Consequently, these workers do not
use any protective measures against cotton dust at the workplace. Indoor air pollution is a
major problem in developing countries5. Its impact has increased due to lack of public
awareness, and exposure of workers to inferior air quality at the workplace leads to ill health.
In ginning factories, dust levels are high. Byssinosis is a breathing disorder that occurs in

1 The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. National cotton scenario. Retrieved September 12, 2013,
from: http://cotcorp. gov.in/national-cotton.aspx.

2 Mishra AK, Rotti SB, Sahai A, Madanmohan, Narayan KA. Byssinosis among male textile workers
in Pondicherry: a case-control study. Natl Med J India. 2003;16(2):703.

3 Siziya S, Munalula B. Respiratory Conditions among workers in a Cotton spinning mill in Zambia.
ATDF Journal. 2005;2(3):912. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from: http://
www.atdforum.org/IMG/pdf/Respiratory_ conditions-_Cotton_mills.pdf.

4 Jalgaon District. Official website. Land records info. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from:
http://jalgaon.gov.in/Html/ Land_Records_Info.htm.
5

some individuals exposed to cotton dust or similar dust. India has numerous cotton-ginning
and textile mills, employing 48% of all factory workers, and ~55% of mill workers suffer
from byssinosis. Its prevalence has decreased in industrialized countries but remains high in
developing countries. Duration of consistent exposure to cotton dust is an important factor in
the causation and development of respiratory symptoms. When breathed in, the air containing
cotton dust irritates the lungs and the exposed workers experience chest tightness, difficulty
in breathing, frequent cough, and wheezing. Several authors have analyzed the relation
between duration of employment and appearance of respiratory symptoms. They showed that
cotton-gin workers had more frequent symptoms of chest tightness, chronic bronchitis, and
chronic cough. They also reported that long-term exposure to cotton dust resulted in
excessive chronic annual loss of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and in higher proportions of
persistent respiratory symptoms of diseases. Eosinophils are a characteristic feature of asthma
and respiratory allergic diseases. Acute exposure to cotton dust also results in an increase in
leukocyte count.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the researcher are as follows:


To understand the meaning, concept and history of the cotton ginning industry in
India.
To study the condition of the workers in the cotton ginning Industries by examining
case-studies.

HYPOTHESIS
The hypothesis proposed by the researcher is that the condition of the workers in the
Industries is very poor and the workers face a lot of problem.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The researcher has used doctrinal method of research. The researcher to examine better the
condition of the workers in plywood industries would visit two of such industries and try and
examine the wage conditions, the facilities, the work hours etc about the industries.

5 Hagling P, Lundholm M, Rylander R. Prevalence of byssinosis in Swedish cotton mills. Br J Ind


Med. 1981;38(2):13843.
6

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF
COTTON GINNERIES
On examining the ginneries included in the study in terms of dates of establishment, it was
found that 60 % were set up in 1990 or before, while 40% were founded after 1990. The
average age of ginnery owners was found to be approximately 45. In spite of the high age of
the ginnery owners, their average number of years of education (11.33 years) was also high.
Owners had an average of 19 years of experience in cotton ginning. This result shows that
ginning enterprises are conducted by experienced managers. With regard to the legal status of
the ginneries, it was found that around 50% were incorporated companies, 26.67% were
limited liability companies, 20% were private companies, and 6.66% were cooperatives.
Amounts of capital of the ginneries examined varied from $73.426 to $3.671.315, with an
average of $1.404.400. The average number of workers employed in the ginneries was 31.53
per enterprise, of whom 82.87% (26.13 persons) were temporary, and 17.13% (5.40 persons)
were permanently employed. The owners of all of the ginneries investigated were involved in
activities other than ginning. A significant proportion were involved in buying unginned
cotton and selling ginned cotton to merchants, middlemen, importers and exporters on their
own account. Some of them, as well as buying unginned cotton, were also growing cotton
themselves. Only 40% of ginnery owners were involved in this kind of activity. In addition,
some ginnery owners were found to be involved in the production of cotton yarn, cottonseed
cake and cottonseed oil. Some were involved in seed and olive oil production. The ginneries
investigated made sales to a total value of between $252.625 and $8.420.849 in the
production season 2006/07, with an average of $3.312.201. On average, 86.22% of the value
of total sales was derived from cotton ginning, and the remainder from other activities.6

6 http://www.custoseagronegocioonline.com.br/numero2v6/algodao.pdf
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HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH


COTTON DUST EXPOSURE
Workers exposed to cotton dust laden environment generally become patients of byssinosis.

A. Byssinosis
Byssinosis is a term taken from a Greek word meaning white thread. It is a breathing disorder
that occurs in some individuals with exposure to raw cotton dust. Characteristically, workers
exhibit shortness of breath and/or the feeling of chest tightness when returning to work after
being in the mill for a day or more. There may be increased cough and phlegm production.
Change in the levels of ESR, LDH3 and Histamine may be used as indicators to assess
pulmonary dysfunction in the workers those are exposed to cotton dust. It was suggested that
the low hemoglobin and poor immunity against diseases may also predispose the outcome
pulmonary dysfunction at an earlier stage. Cotton dust extract induces the release of
histamine from samples of human lung tissue in vitro. Therefore it is believed that histamine
release is responsible for the major symptoms of byssinosis. Dr. Richard Schilling, a British
physician developed a system of grading workers based on their breathing complaints on the
first workday of the week. Schillings classification grades byssinosis according to how far it
has progressed.

A.1.Schillings classifications are as follows. Grade 0 = No complaints of breathing problems


Grade 1/2 = Chest tightness and/or shortness of breath sometimes on the first day of the
workweek.
Grade 1 = Chest tightness and/or shortness of breath always on the first day of the workweek.
Grade 2 = Chest tightness and/or shortness of breath on the first workday and on other days
of the workweek.
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Grade 3 = Chest tightness and/or shortness of breath on the first workday and other days as
well as impairment of lung function.

B. Pulmonary Diseases

There is a group of lung diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The diseases
in the group are major causes of illness and disability among workers.

The most common types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are:

1. Chronic bronchitis

2. Asthma

3. Emphysema [3]

1. Chronic bronchitis

Is a disorder characterized by a cough and sputum lasting for three or more months of the
year and recurring year after year.

2. Asthma

It is thought to be an allergic type of response that causes airways to swell and become
narrow. There is increased mucous causing a wheezy, whistly sound to breathing. Usually
both chronic bronchitis and asthma improve when the person is removed from the irritation
causing this response.

3. Emphysema

It is the destruction of the delicate walls between the tiny air sacks in the lungs. As the walls
are destroyed, the air sacks enlarge and the lungs have less ability to supply oxygen to the
bloodstream. In emphysema, there is no way to repair the destroyed air sacs. 7

7 http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0413/ijsrp-p16146.pdf
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HEALTH MONITORING
Employees must be monitored if they are to work in an environment containing cotton dust. The
environment containing the cotton dust must also be monitored.

A. Medical Monitoring

In any workplace where cotton dust is present there must be a medical surveillance program for all
employees exposed to cotton dust. Examinations must be done by or under the direction of a licensed
physician. People administering the pul- monary function (breathing) tests must have attended a
course approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Medical
examinations are to be provided to prospective employees prior to their initial assignment. As a
minimum, the examinations should include:

A medical history to identify any existing health problems or diseases that may affect breathing.

A standardized respiratory questionnaire inquiring about such concerns as cough, chest tightness and
smoking history.

A pulmonary function (breathing) test including the forced vital capacity (FVC), the amount of air
one can force out after taking a deep breath, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), the
amount of air forced out during the first second of expiration. 8

Test results are compared to a set of predicted tables based on a persons age, height, sex and race.
Generally, tests are considered to be within the normal range if they are 80 percent or greater of the
predicted value. The initial determinations should be made prior to entering the workplace on the first
day worked and after having no cotton dust exposure for at least 35 hours. The pulmonary function
tests will be repeated during the shift, at least four hours, but not longer than 10 hours after the first
test. These tests are then compared for changes. If there is a decrease of 5 percent or greater on the
second after- exposure test, it may indicate a reaction to cotton dust. Each employee will be assigned a
byssinosis grade based on his or her response to the respiratory questionnaire. Follow-up

8 http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0413/ijsrp-p16146.pdf
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examinations are required annually for all employees exposed to cotton dust. The examinations
include an update of the medical history and standardized questionnaire and a repeat of the pulmonary
function test preformed both before and after the exposure to cotton dust. Examination is required
every six months for employees who are below the expected normal value when compared to
predicted values, or for employees who show a decrease in pulmonary function on the after-exposure
test. If the physician feels significant changes have occurred from year to year, or if the worker has
complaints about breathing, six-month testing will also be done. Employees who are below 60 percent
of the predicted value on their breathing test will be sent to a physician for an evaluation. Employees
will be furnished written information on the results of their examination. OSHA has not published
specific criteria for hiring people to work in a cotton dust environment except to specify an initial
examination be conducted. Experience has shown that people who have a history of asthma or other
respiratory diseases do not fare well in a cotton dust environment. Many medical specialists
recommend that individuals who have a breathing test result below 80 percent of the predicted normal
value should not be hired to work in a cotton dust environment. 9

9 Semion Tabak, David M.Broday, Ilya and Gedalyahu Manor. Facultiy of Agricultural Engineering,
Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
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MANAGEMENT OF WORKPLACE
ENVIROMENTAL HAZARD
Emission Control

The air we breathe at work should be non-contaminated because it affects on health in several
ways. Healthy air quality is an important element of any safe work environment. Some of the
symptoms of indoor air pollution include throat and eye irritation, dizziness headache,
coughing, trouble in breathing and fatigue. These symptoms may result in to asthma,
byssinosis, heart diseases and cancer etc. 10

Fumes and Gases

Fumes are airborne solid particles that are formed when the material from volatalized solid,
usually molten metal, condenses in cool air. A number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) have been identified in foundry dust associated with pyrolysis of coke, carbon and
organic substances. Gases are formless fluids that expand to occupy the space for enclosure in
which they are confined. Gases exist in vapour phase at normal temperature and pressure.
Many gases are stored under pressure in a liquefied nature before use. If such gases are not
controlled due to leakage, the workplace air may be contaminated. Most of the gases are
invisible, however some may have strong and characteristic odor that may give warning of
their presence in the foundry. Alternatively, some gases may have no warning order and cause
harmful health effects at extremely low concentrations. Other gases may indicate their
presence by various irritating effects such as respiratory irritation, coughing, asthma, acidic
taste and watering of eyes.

Particulates

10 http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/27505/5/05_chapter%201.pdf
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Particulate matter (PM) is the term used for a wide range of particles that are small enough to
be carried by the air and therefore finds entry in the exposed population. Particulate appears a
solid or liquid, or in a mixture form. The size of these particles may range from 0.005 m to
100 m in diameter. Rylander and Jecobs (1997) reported that particles with diameter
between 1 to 8 m may enter the lung aveoli

The best control measures for workplace air pollution includes increased ventilation, source
isolation, source control, dehumidification and use of suitable filters etc. Providing personal
protective equipments (PPE) could be a efficient measures for protection of workers from the
workplace environment hazards, when it is difficult to execute above technologies.

Workplace Noise Control

High levels of occupational noise are identified as a worldwide problem especially in the
industries (WHO). Exposure to higher noise has various adverse effects on human being as
given in previous section. Noise control measures can be included in the design of the
installation or design and construction of a new workplace. In plant design the measures to
eliminate and control noise levels to minimize the risk involved needs to be suggested. Proper
noise control techniques need to be adopted at workplace environment to avoid exposure of
the workers to high noise. a. Engineering Controls at Workplaces Noisy operations should be
reduced or isolated from the workers.11

Timely repairing of loose and rotating parts, replacing worn bearings and

gears and regular maintenance. Metal to metal contact should be avoided by using plastic
or rubber bumpers.

Adding noise barriers, noise enclosures, vibration isolation mountings,

laggings, mufflers and silencers where appropriate to reduce noise at source. Absorbing
acoustic shock by providing wear resistant rubber or plastic

coatings. Use of conveyor belts rather than rollers.

Stiffening and fixing damping materials to panels and other surfaces to

11 http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/27505/5/05_chapter%201.pdf
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reduce vibration and noise impact of items during processing. Using a sound-reducing
enclosure that fully encloses the machine(s).

Using sound-absorbing material on floors, ceiling and/or walls to reduce the

sound level due to reverberation. Using sound-absorbing baffles between workers and the
noise source.

Using acoustical silencers in intake and exhaust systems associated with gaseous flow
activity, for example, internal combustion exhaust systems or air conditioning systems.

b. Administrative control

When, it is not possible to reduce noise exposure through engineering control measures.
Administrative controls should be used these include: Organizing schedules so that noisy
work is done during a particular part of

the shift or when as few people as possible are present. Notifying people in advance when
noisy work is to be carried out so they can

limit their exposure to it. Keeping people out of noisy areas if their job does not require
them to be

there. Display of noise levels and posters for awareness of workers.

Frequent rotations of workers from noisy area to avoid continue exposure to

noise. Maintaining machines and equipment in good condition to reduce noise,

including the addition of noise mufflers, vibration isolators, or duct silencers. Job rotation
(changing tasks carried out by workers to prevent exposure to

excessive noise). Purchasing new plant and equipment that produces noise levels that can
reduce excessive exposure to noise. c. Information and training for workers Making
workers aware about workplace noise and its possible health effects

through periodic training programmes. The noise exposures at a particular workplace and
control measures used to
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protect the workers. Correct use of personal hearing protectors.12

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS


Cotton-ginning workers, mostly those working in ginning and pressing rooms, are exposed to
high concentrations of cotton dust. The pulmonary function test shows a significant reduction
in lung capacity, with increasing duration of exposure among cotton-ginning workers. Levels
of eosinophils, ESR, and WBCs, which show characteristic features of respiratory
impairment or allergy, are also high among workers exposed to cotton dust. In this study, we
observed a high prevalence of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive disease in workers
exposed for longer periods. The results of this study also show a significant decline in FEV1,
FVC, and PEFR with extended duration of exposure. The study also shows a strong
relationship between the duration of exposure and risk of respiratory impairment symptoms
among the workers. This study indicates that cotton-ginning workers are vulnerable to
respiratory impairment due to exposure to cotton dust in the working environment. We
recommend that cotton-ginning workers use a mask to avoid dust entering the respiratory
tract. Pictorial information about the use of masks should be displayed in the workplace to
make illiterate workers aware of this need. Regular medical check-ups of workers is also
important for early identification of workers experiencing breathing problems that may be
related to the working environment.

12 http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/27505/5/05_chapter%201.pdf
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Websites Referred:

http://www.jstor.org/stable/42603673?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/an-industry-glued-to-past/story-
sDybRVDmnnlsX243Dri4NN.html
http://ethesis.nitrkl.ac.in/6094/1/E-208.pdf
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/27505/12/12_resercha%20paper
%201.pdf
http://www.custoseagronegocioonline.com.br/numero2v6/algodao.pdf
http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0413/ijsrp-p16146.pdf

The Cotton Corporation of India Ltd. National cotton scenario. Retrieved September
12, 2013, from: http://cotcorp. gov.in/national-cotton.aspx.
Mishra AK, Rotti SB, Sahai A, Madanmohan, Narayan KA. Byssinosis among male
textile workers in Pondicherry: a case-control study. Natl Med J India. 2003;16(2):70
3.
Siziya S, Munalula B. Respiratory Conditions among workers in a Cotton spinning
mill in Zambia. ATDF Journal. 2005;2(3):912. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from:
http:// www.atdforum.org/IMG/pdf/Respiratory_ conditions-_Cotton_mills.pdf.
Jalgaon District. Official website. Land records info. Retrieved September 12, 2013,
from: http://jalgaon.gov.in/Html/ Land_Records_Info.htm.
Hagling P, Lundholm M, Rylander R. Prevalence of byssinosis in Swedish cotton
mills. Br J Ind Med. 1981;38(2):13843.

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