IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-6p6086-6098.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Institutional Blind Spots in OHS: A Study on Awareness, Hazards, and Structural Barriers for Female Workers in Rice Mill Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Sheikh Liza.

    (Student, Department of Anthropology University of Rajshahi)

  • Radia Awal Trisha

    (Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology University of Rajshahi)

  • Hanjala Bin Rostum

    (Student, Department of Anthropology University of Rajshahi)

Abstract

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) among female workers in the rice mill industry is a critical issue. This study focuses on the level of awareness among both workers and workplace authorities. It also identified the common health hazards women faced due to their working environment and how the system responds to them. Findings show that, despite the hazardous nature of the work environment, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) awareness remains notably low among both stakeholders: the female workers and the authority, though the inconsideration of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is contributing to the persistence of preventable occupational health risks. This study identifies respiratory problems and musculoskeletal disorders as the common health hazards faced by female workers. Female workers frequently identified their working environment as the root cause of their health issue, again never claimed Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measure due to unawareness. It also explains little institutional education of workers and traditional inheritance of ‘Chatal’ keep both workers and ‘Mahajan’ unaware regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) from generation to generation. Following purely qualitative methods this qualitative study critically analyzes the institutional responsiveness and structural gaps in enforcing Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, revealing a significant disconnect between policy frameworks it’s all sector inclusion and on-ground implementation. Findings highlight the need for interventions in informal sector, gender-sensitive Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) training and facilities, and stronger regulatory system to ensure Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) system before establishing rice mill to ensure safer working conditions for female laborers in the rice milling sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheikh Liza. & Radia Awal Trisha & Hanjala Bin Rostum, 2025. "Institutional Blind Spots in OHS: A Study on Awareness, Hazards, and Structural Barriers for Female Workers in Rice Mill Industry," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(6), pages 6086-6098, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-6:p:6086-6098
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-6/6086-6098.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/institutional-blind-spots-in-ohs-a-study-on-awareness-hazards-and-structural-barriers-for-female-workers-in-rice-mill-industry/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Naila Kabeer, 2004. "Globalization, Labor Standards, And Women'S Rights: Dilemmas Of Collective (In)Action In An Interdependent World," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 3-35.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Klasen, Stephan, 2020. "From ‘MeToo’ to Boko Haram: A survey of levels and trends of gender inequality in the world," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Levasseur Karine & Paterson Stephanie & Carvalho Moreira Nathalia, 2018. "Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfers: Implications for Gender," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, June.
    3. Elissa Braunstein, 2019. "Foreign direct investment and development from a gender perspective," Chapters, in: Jonathan Michie (ed.), The Handbook of Globalisation, Third Edition, chapter 10, pages 178-187, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Dejardin, Amelita King., 2009. "Gender (in)equality, globalization and governance," ILO Working Papers 994327273402676, International Labour Organization.
    5. Astrid Agenjo‐Calderón & Lina Gálvez‐Muñoz, 2019. "Feminist Economics: Theoretical and Political Dimensions," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(1), pages 137-166, January.
    6. Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & Gunseli Berik, 2006. "Asia's Race to Capture Post-MFA Markets: A Snapshot of Labor Standards, Compliance, and Impacts on Competitiveness," Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, University of Utah 2006_02, University of Utah, Department of Economics.
    7. Malayaranjan Sahoo & Narayan Sethi, 2022. "The dynamic impact of urbanization, structural transformation, and technological innovation on ecological footprint and PM2.5: evidence from newly industrialized countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 4244-4277, March.
    8. Knorringa, P., 2007. "Asian drivers and the future of responsible production and consumption," ISS Working Papers - General Series 18752, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    9. Chen, Jianxing & Wei, Shiwei & Mei, Chun, 2023. "Do structural transformation and urbanization assist in enhancing sustainable energy technologies innovations? Evidence from ASEAN countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 895-902.
    10. Günseli Berik & Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, 2010. "Options for enforcing labour standards: Lessons from Bangladesh And Cambodia," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(1), pages 56-85.
    11. Kate Grosser & Jeremy Moon, 2019. "CSR and Feminist Organization Studies: Towards an Integrated Theorization for the Analysis of Gender Issues," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 321-342, March.
    12. Christine M. Koggel, 2015. "The Practical and the Theoretical: Comparing Displacement by Development and Ethics of Global Development," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1), pages 142-153, February.
    13. Jean Jenkins, 2013. "Across Boundaries: The Global Challenges Facing Workers and Employment Research 50th Anniversary Special Issue," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(3), pages 623-643, September.
    14. Seguino, Stephanie, 2006. "The Road to Gender Equality: Global Trends and the Way Forward," MPRA Paper 6510, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Venkatesh, V.G. & Zhang, Abraham & Deakins, Eric & Mani, Venkatesh, 2021. "Antecedents of social sustainability noncompliance in the Indian apparel sector," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    16. Sheba Tejani & David Kucera, 2021. "Defeminization, Structural Transformation and Technological Upgrading in Manufacturing," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(3), pages 533-573, May.
    17. Jennifer Bair & Mark Anner & Jeremy Blasi, 2020. "The Political Economy of Private and Public Regulation in Post-Rana Plaza Bangladesh," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 73(4), pages 969-994, August.
    18. Rashmi Venkatesan, 2019. "The UN Framework on Business and Human Rights: A Workers’ Rights Critique," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 635-652, July.
    19. Elias, Wafa & Benjamin, Julian & Shiftan, Yoram, 2015. "Gender differences in activity and travel behavior in the Arab world," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 19-27.
    20. Ida Bastiaens & Evgeny Postnikov & Anne‐Kathrin Kreft, 2023. "Labour provisions in trade agreements and women's rights in the global south," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 14(5), pages 702-715, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-6:p:6086-6098. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.