OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES: THE MAIN PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR IN SEWING AND TEXTILE ENTERPRISES

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent the most prevalent work-related health problem in the textiles sector, with significant proportions of workers reporting backache and muscular pain. Manual handling activities—such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling—are the primary cause of occupational injuries, leading to both cumulative disorders (e.g., lower back pain) and acute trauma. Contributing risk factors include awkward postures, repetitive movements, and fatigue associated with spinning, cutting, packaging, storage, and shipping tasks. In addition to ergonomic hazards, textile workers are exposed to a wide range of chemical substances, including dyes, solvents, formaldehyde, flame retardants, and heavy metals, some of which are respiratory and skin sensitisers and have been linked to increased carcinogenic risks, particularly nasal, laryngeal, and bladder cancers among women.