Factories

Assessment Context

Factories in Bangladesh span garment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food processing, steel fabrication, ceramics, plastics and electronics assembly. The ready-made garment (RMG) sector alone employs millions of workers across thousands of factories. Following the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, factory building safety received international attention, leading to inspection programmes such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Assessment of factory buildings must address structural safety, fire protection, worker welfare and environmental compliance.

Structural Safety

Factory structures must support production machinery, raw materials, finished goods and worker populations. Vibrating machinery requires isolation from the building structure to prevent fatigue damage. Heavy equipment on upper floors creates concentrated loads that may exceed original design assumptions, especially in converted buildings. Assessment should verify: structural design adequacy for actual equipment loads and vibration, column and beam condition, foundation adequacy, lateral force resistance for seismic and wind loads, and the integrity of any structural modifications or additions.

Fire Protection

Manufacturing processes introduce fire hazards from raw materials, chemicals, dust, hot work and electrical equipment. Garment factories face particular fire risks from fabric dust and stored materials. Assessment should cover: fire detection and alarm systems, sprinkler or suppression systems appropriate to the manufacturing process, fire-rated compartmentation between production areas and storage, means of egress (adequate number, width, travel distance and protection of exit routes), emergency lighting, fire extinguishers appropriate to the hazards present, and fire brigade access.

Worker Health and Safety

The Bangladesh Labour Act and Factory Act set requirements for worker welfare including: ventilation and temperature control in work areas, lighting levels for different tasks, sanitary facilities, drinking water, first aid provisions, and protective equipment. Noise levels from machinery, exposure to chemicals or dust, and ergonomic factors all require assessment. Exit capacity must account for the total worker population including shift overlaps.

Environmental Compliance

Factories may require environmental clearance from the Department of Environment (DoE), classified by environmental impact category (Green, Orange-A, Orange-B, Red). Assessment should verify: wastewater treatment and discharge compliance, air emissions controls, solid waste management, noise control at boundaries, and chemical storage and handling practices. The environmental category determines the level of regulatory oversight and monitoring requirements.