Clothing manufacture is labour-intensive with repetitive andd skilled manipulation of fabric. Poorly-designed workstations contribute to cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) such as musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulder and upper limb, collectively known as repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

Ergonomics, which can be used beneficially in the clothing industry, can be described as a system of interaction between components in the workplace, which include the worker, the work environment both physical and organisational, the task and the workspace. Effective ergonomic interventions could reduce health problems and accidents in the workplace.