Hazard Exposures and Job Content of Women Workers in Electronics Manufacturing Industries

Abstract

The electronics industry represents the highest dollar earning industry in the Philippines for several years now. Women are the backbone of the multi-billion electronic worldwide industry. This study investigated the working conditions of women workers pertaining to health hazard exposures and nature of job in electronics industries in the Philippines. This was a cross sectional study involving 13 electronics industries in the Philippines and 348 women workers. Methods included survey questionnaire for workers, survey for the industries and industrial hygiene measurements. Results showed that illumination, noise, heat, ventilation, humidity and dust all exceeded the threshold limit value. Females dominated the labour force in the electronics industries consisting of 72.3% compared to only 27.7% males. The most important aspect of this project is its eventual implications for policy and program formulation and industry evaluation.

Keywords: Women Workers, Electronic Industry, Hazard Exposure, Content of Job