Case Study on the Occupational Safety and Health
of Home-Workers in the Jewelry Industry

Generally, jewelry making exposes homeworkers to occupational risks and health hazards.  Most often, workers are not amply protected from toxic chemicals such as boric, sulfuric, nitric and muriatic acid, cyanide and caustic soda.  The problem lies not so much on the employers but on the workers themselves who do not want to use protective devices because of discomfort.  They also feel that these devices slow down their work place.

Goldsmiths often inhale gases from their flow torches, resulting in respiratory problems and complications.  Workers said they feel weak often, contract cough and colds, and complain of headaches and sinusitis.  The working area is often not well ventilated.

Homeworkers said they also suffer from musculoskeletal discomfort in the form of backaches, numbness of hands and feet and rheumatism/ arthritis.  Musculoskeletal symptoms manifest themselves on persons who assume a fixed position or perform repetitive movement for long periods.

Common accidents that occur in jewelry working areas are burns and cuts.  Some workers reported cases of blindness and poisoning due to carelessness and absence of protective devices.

Negligence, and improper handling and storage of chemicals and gasoline sometimes lead to fires which are usually hard to contain because of the presence of highly combustible materials in the workplace.

The study recommended the following: policy advocacy on the need for relevant and appropriate policies/ legislation for homeworkers, registration of homeworkers with the Department of Labor and Employment to facilitate the provision of protective services, and the conduct of training programs for homeworkers on occupational safety and health, among others.