Work Health and Safety in Cotton Ginning Industry: A Survey of Practices in Australia

This survey focuses on the WH&S (Work Health and Safety) practices in Australia and relates them with those in Pakistan. It also highlights the planned areas of work required on WH&S in cotton ginning industry of Pakistan. This article is one a series of research studies that will inform a broader approach development. The aim of the survey was to design a standardized health and safety Act for cotton ginning industry of Pakistan and to help ginners meet their due industry obligations under the model WH&S Act. The first component of the research study survey was to review the relevant Australian work and safety model as this provides a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of all employees at work and of other people who might be affected by the job. The second aspect of the research study survey concerned site visits to cotton gins with the support of Australian Centre for Agricultural Health & Safety, Moree, NSW. During these visits the existing ginning process in terms of WH&S were reviewed. Informal interviews were also conducted with Gin Managers and Ginning Experts regarding WH&S in the Australian cotton ginning industry.