Many of these workers feel angry and emotional when they are not inhaling glue fumes. Much of the protective equipment that can be used is also not appropriate and the workers do not want to use it. Although not all workers handle chemicals, are exposed to high heat, or are located in the high noise areas, the size and layout of the production facilities entail that most workers are affected from these chemicals or environments. Both the Bangkok Rubber Group and Wongpaitoon Footwear Company have been trying out the appropriate protection equipment and exchange information among themselves. Workers stitching uppers in a Siam Unisole factory.
Manufacturers provide cloth-masks to workers to satisfy the codes of conduct.
After long protest by labor activists, Nike and Reebok agreed that their producers would use water-based solvents to eliminate the carcinogenic chemical toluene. Nike and Reebok have heavily advertised this fact. However, not all of the dangerous chemicals can be eliminated. Some of the most dangerous chemicals for processing, binding, and cleaning rubber are agents which pose a serious threat to unprotected workers. The personal protective equipment that has been supplied to workers is in many cases not suitable for the intense heat in the factories.