Sparks were reported coming from an electrical circuit on the 3rd floor of a factory by one of the factory operators. When workers attempted to ring the fire alarm, it did not work. A similar event occurred a short time later the same morning. After being notified, management allowed workers to leave the building until the cause of the sparks could be resolved and the malfunctioning fire alarm could be fixed. Some days later, calls to workers in the building confirmed that the problems had been resolved
A worker observed cracks in the male bathroom of about 15-20 feet in length between the roof and the joint wall. Most of the required retrofitting and strengthening of the factory’s support structures had already been completed. The worker, Rashid was concerned that the cracks he found posed a risk. The factory was contacted right away and it was determined by experts that the cracks were not dangerous. This news was communicated to all workers in the factory over the public address system.
During a factory construction project, a 3rd-floor sewing operator called to report that several vertical beams had been cut and the building was shaking. After a review of the situation by a qualified expert, the factory ceased the construction work and will begin again only when proper precautions for structural integrity are in place.
At 11:30 a.m. in the morning, fire broke out in the 1st-floor washing division of a factory outside Dhaka. The Helpline received notice almost immediately from Iqbal who was working nearby. “I was unable to find the number for the fire brigade, but I had the Helpline number,” explained Iqbal. “Now we are conducting monthly fire drills in the factory and management is taking fire prevention very seriously.” As it turned out in this case, the fire brigade had already been notified. But the added assurance of being able to reach the Helpline to make sure the fire authorities were on their way provided an extra layer of protection and comfort to Iqbal. No one was hurt and there was no significant damage to the factory.
A newly hired sewing operator called the Helpline for support in getting the wages due her after she was terminated. She was asked to leave the factory during the probationary period because she failed to meet the production target. When the caller asked for her payment, the supervisor refused.
According to labor law, management must pay the worker’s full salary, including overtime during the probationary period. The Helpline communicated with a senior manager at the factory who assured the Helpline officer that the worker would get paid. The Helpline confirmed that the worker received full payment due and the case was closed.
A fire occurred at a home nearby a factory, threatening not only the community but the factory itself. The authorities were notified immediately after Helpline representatives learned of the situation. Fortunately, the factory management and nearby community worked together and the fire was under control before the fire brigade arrived. No one was injured.
Nasir was routinely surrounded by fabric spools, blocking easy egress for himself and the other 3 workers in the ground floor warehouse. Dina, a sewing operator in a different factory, had a similar experience. She found that fabric was stored in the stairwell on the 4th floor, making it difficult to pass. “If any incident occurred in the factory,” remarked Nasir, “it will be difficult for us to leave the place quickly. We could do our work outside of the building but management makes us work inside where the fabric rolls are everywhere.” Nair and Dina expressed a similar view – their management responded well after the call to the Helpline. In both bases, the fabric was removed. Nasir’s warehouse floor and Dina’s stairwell have remained clear for easy egress
A worker called to report that an electrical panel was uncovered. The worker, who observed loose wires as well, was concerned that a spark could ignite a fire at any time. The worker had informed management before calling the Helpline but no action had been taken. After management was notified, there was still no action taken to address the report of the hazard. After another call to the factory – this time with a request that the electrical panel be fixed within the day—the electrical panel was fully repaired. The Helpline was able to inform the worker that the problem has been resolved
