Workplace health and safety under climate stress in Sri Lankan apparel SMEs.

ABSTRACT: Climate change poses escalating risks to labor-intensive industries in South Asia. This mixed‑methods study assessed how climate‑related hazards affect the health, safety and productivity of workers in Sri Lankan small‑ and medium‑scale apparel manufacturing companies (SMAMCs). A survey of 384 employees in Biyagama and Katunayake Export Processing Zones captured quantitative data on exposure to excessive heat, flooding, indoor air pollution and mosquito‑borne diseases, and elicited qualitative accounts of workplace experiences. Heat waves and high humidity were the most pervasive stressors: 81.25% (95% CI; 77.3 to 85.2) of respondents reported heat stress, with headaches, dehydration, and diminished concentration frequently linked to needle‑prick injuries. Flood events damaged infrastructu

SUBMITTER: Senadeera DJCH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12903649 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature