Poland – Safer and healthier work at any age: the case of a Polish sewing plant (Dartex)

Poland – Safer and healthier work at any age: the case of a Polish sewing plant (Dartex)

DARTEX is a small sewing plant with 14 female employees 

working five-day single shifts. Repetitive tasks, performed 

seated, increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Safety and 

health issues impacted on productivity and customer satisfaction,

 as well as sickness-absence. In addition to legally-required 

medical checks, assessment of individual workstations led to 

improvements in work organisation, layout and equipment, 

reducing repetitive strain. External consultants advised on 

lighting and machinery changes to minimise eyestrain, and 

exposure to noise and vibration. Improved work organisation 

reduced accidents to zero and reduced MSDs, while increased 

precision resulted in a 70% reduction in customer complaints. 

Monthly audits ensure continued focus on OSH issues. Success 

factors include awareness of OSH issues, employer commitment, 

worker involvement and use of external experts. Challenges were

 experienced initially in convincing employees of the benefits of 

change but were soon overcome. While the solutions are 

industry-specific, the cooperative, practical approach which 

brings solid business benefits, is widely transferable.

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