More than 42% participants of a building and fire safety show viewed the standards exhibited were good, but hard to implement, according to a survey that also found 35.5% think the standards should be implemented from now.
Around 11%, however, opined that the standards are too stringent to implement, said the survey conducted on 467 participants of the two-day show concluded in Dhaka yesterday.
The organisers of the international trade expo for building and fire safety conducted the survey among the participants – 64% of them were from factory representatives, 18.1% brands, 4.7% consultants and 2.8% from NGOs and unions.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety in cooperation with the Accord, IFC, C &A Foundation and Elevate jointly organised the first ever expo of its kind.
Untrained management and supervisors, wrong attitude of management and untrained workers are the top three challenges behind ensuring the safety in the country’s readymade garment sector, according to the survey. The survey suggested three remedial measures.
“To train the managers and workers, and increase external monitoring are on top of the remedial measures identified by the survey,” M Rabin, managing director of the Alliance told a post-expo press briefing at a city hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
Protecting the safety of Bangladesh factory workers means “we all have a role to play,” he said. “That is why we are pleased to be working so closely with our partners on the ground to ensure factory safety improvements will be swift, integrated and sustainable over the long-term.”
The participants expected the expo would find solutions for the fire and building safety challenges to contribute to improve safety in RMG factories, the survey found.
Replying to a question, the Accord Executive Director Rob Wayss said they have got some complains over the withdrawal of orders by some big buyers from the factories located at shared or rented buildings. He assured that the Accord will look into the issue.
Regarding the standards, the Accord ED said the standards are set in a harmonised way with consultation with the Alliance and law of the land, but there are some additional requirements like sprinkler.
BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said the expo measure of success included its ability to provide safe conditions for workers, and it is our hope that this expo will help achieve that.
