ABSTRACT
From the perspective of medical doctors, occupational health is routinely explored through sex as an explanatory variable and to increase emphasis on the mechanisms involved in any sex or gender differences (Messinga and Stellmanb 2006).This was found in the bakery sector where specific respiratory allergies and asthma were clearly demonstrated as a result of constant exposure to flour and other ingredients (Houba et al. 1998). In a study comparing compensable work-related injuries and illnesses between females and males across all major industrial sectors and occupations have found that the overall injury or illness rate was significantly lower in females than males (5.5 vs. 11.5 per 100 employees), a trend that extended to all major industrial classes with the exception of service and agricultural sectors.The distribution of types of injury or illness varied by gender, occupation, and industry with significantly higher risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, burn, sprain, and fracture in females compared to males (Islam et al. 2001). In a study conducted in the Iranian carpet industry to determine the prevalence of upper limb problems associated with hand tools design, and focused on designing or redesigning the weaving comb, knife and scissors as the most common tools in carpet weaving operation Motamedzadea et al. (2007) found that the new ergonomically designed weaving hand tools were found to be effective and acceptable to the carpet weavers, and that ergonomic improvements in the carpet hand tools may promote health and safety among carpet weavers. In the governorate of Djelfa in the south of Algeria, poor women earn liveli-
hoods by processing camel hair and raw wool material and weaving a national garment used as traditional coat and worn for prestigious national occasions. It is also often a favored gift for and given by the highest levels of the national hierarchy to eminent guests. However, while this activity could constitute an important means for women’s empowerment, it is greatly affecting their health mainly because it is a problem largely ignored by health and development agencies and being a home-based activity, it is not covered by national insurance schemes.
