We in the West take a lot for granted. We are used to certain standards of care in our homes and workplaces, so much so that we rarely take the time to notice it. Workplace accidents are a big deal, and failure to report them can lead to being shown the door. So it’s a bit disappointing to see how things are done in countries with a less strict approach in some areas of basic health and safety.

With the urge to cut prices as low as possible, low-tech items such as clothing and housewares tend not to be produced in highly sophisticated automated factories, but more likely in smaller facilities employing more people. of labor, which favors countries where this labor is less expensive. and no longer available. The video we highlight here shows a small factory in what is probably Pakistan (but it could also be a few other places, we’re just guessing) which would seem pretty typical for the level of sophistication required to make teapots. enamelled.

The video shows the production process, from a sheet of steel hand-cut with shears, which is ground before being stamped into a shallow dish. These first two machines are driven by exposed belts, which is particularly risky, given the style of loose fabric clothing that many workers wear. In the background, you can see the electrical wiring just slung over the shoulder, hanging from nails. The whole building is the same, improvised machines without protective devices, managed by skilled workers dedicated to the task assigned to them, all working in perfect harmony. It’s nice to watch, but also sad at the same time, because you know these guys are right in the middle of a thousand potential dangers, and only their skill and dexterity can prevent something bad from happening. The machines themselves are heavily worn out everywhere, but clearly hacked by someone who knows enough to make them work. It is sufficient to check the deep wear of the tool holder at [4:20] in the video!

Thank you [Todd] for the tip!