magine working in a factory where rats and cockroaches rummage through garbage strewn across the floor. Thread particles fill the air, but there is no ventilation. Emergency exits are blocked. Filthy bathrooms lack doors and running water, and there is nowhere to eat lunch. These are but a few of the health hazards that sweatshop workers in Los Angeles confront on a daily basis.

"Garment workers are among the most vulnerable working populations in California because they are low-wage, uninsured and face cultural and economic barriers in accessing adequate health care," said Lucía Corral Peña, program director for TCWF's Work and Health priority area.

TCWF provided a three-year, $150,000 grant to the Garment Worker Center (GWC) to continue to coordinate outreach, conduct health and safety workshops, and improve health care access for garment workers in Los Angeles. Established in 2001, GWC is a grassroots organization that seeks to improve the short- and long-term health outcomes of garment workers through workplace health and safety education, health services referrals and advocacy. Its activities include presenting educational workshops, creating a directory of free and low-cost health services, evaluating gaps in the health service system for uninsured garment workers, and developing relationships with local medical providers.

Culturally sensitive workshops are offered on topics including reproductive health, nutrition, mental health, children's health, domestic violence, how to obtain medical services, and instructions for reporting health and safety violations. Workshop topics are determined by the GWC's women's group, made up of workers who have sought assistance at the Center.

One workshop included an exercise known as body mapping. "We had workers place stickers on areas of their body where they hurt from work," said Kimi Lee, executive director of GWC. "Then workers did the movements from their jobs to show what kind of motions they did all day. A trainer then showed the workers stretches and showed them things to help alleviate the stress in their bodies."

The GWC is committed to addressing workers' overall health and well-being and to promoting health awareness and access to culturally competent health services. Since most garment workers are recent immigrants and speak little or no English, having staff who speak their languages and understand the barriers immigrants face is crucial to ensuring that these workers receive adequate health and safety services.

In helping to educate garment workers, who in many cases are unaware of the services and programs available to them, GWC links them with other health education programs such as the STD screenings, prenatal classes, breast-feeding support groups, free clinics and emergency services.

Since Los Angeles hosts the largest garment manufacturing industry in the United States, the health and safety hazards associated with the industry are expected to grow in importance as the globalization of this workforce expands.

"As our economy becomes increasingly globalized, we will continue to experience local impacts in certain segments of California's workforce," said TCWF's Peňa. "It will be important to understand the related health risks and identify strategies to address them."