Occupational and environmental health issues of solid waste management : special emphasis on middle and lower-income countries (original) (raw)

Occupational Risks among the Municipal Solid Waste Collectors in Khartoum Locality

IJMRAP, 2021

Background: A solid waste collection workers is a group of workers known as garbage collectors responsible for collecting garbage to the final disposal point or recycling. They are exposed to many risks while they are collecting waste such as bad odors, sharp materials, dust, harsh flies and they get dirty easily even when they using protective clothing. Objectives: The aim of this study to assess the occupational hazard and risk among solid waste collection workers and to determine the prevention methods for these possible hazards and risks. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum locality among 280 solid waste collection workers, 2017. Multistage sampling technique methods were performed. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire and observation checklists and analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Results: The study revealed that 76% of workers were not educated While, 67.1% injured at work. All workers (100%) were not had been subjected to the pre and periodic medical examination, did not have the personal protective equipment, not vaccinated against tetanus, HBV and HCV, and not trained in health practices and the safe handling of the waste. The study found statistically significant between lack of training on the safe handling of the waste and being injuries and accidents (p. value<0.05). Conclusion: Solid waste collection workers are more at risk during their work. However, they do not have the lowest levels of protection to perform their duties without risk. Therefore, all workers should be subjected to the pre and periodic medical examination, raise awareness, and provide training and personal protective equipment.

Health disorders among Egyptian municipal solid waste workers and assessment of their knowledge, attitude, and practice towards the hazardous exposure

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021

Solid waste workers are exposed to variety of injuries and diseases at work. To study health disorders among workers in the waste management field and to assess their knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) towards hazardous exposure and safety measures. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 275 waste workers and an equal number as a group of controls from workers’ relatives or workers not involved in waste management. Workers completed a self-administered or interviewer-based questionnaire containing data about (i) knowledge, e.g., management of wastes, types of hazards associated with solid waste management, and safety measures; (ii) attitude, e.g., opinions about mode of transmission of infection and safety measures; and (iii) practice, e.g., available safety measures to prevent exposure to hazards. Health education sessions were carried out with pre- and post-assessment of KAP. Both groups were assessed regarding the health status through history, general, and local examinati...

Knowledge on occupational health hazard and safety practices among the municipal solid waste handler

Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, 2018

Background: All over the world nearly 860,000 people are injured every day and 2.3 million deaths occur annually due to occupational accidents and work-related diseases.There are limited studies that specifically determine the knowledge of waste handlers on occupational health problems and associated factors of occupational health problems and injuries in waste handlersin context of Nepal. Therefore, this studyaimed to assess the knowledge of waste handlers on occupational health and safety practices and its association with utilization of PPEs along with the condition of occupational health problems and injuries and factors associated with them among the waste handlers of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among selected 355 solid waste collectors by using semi-structured questionnaire and observation checklist, which was completed from March 2016 to May 2016. The data was entered into SPSS 20 version for analysis and a chi-squar...

Waste collection in developing countries--tackling occupational safety and health hazards at their source

Waste management (New York, N.Y.), 2012

Waste management procedures in developing countries are associated with occupational safety and health risks. Gastro-intestinal infections, respiratory and skin diseases as well as muscular-skeletal problems and cutting injuries are commonly found among waste workers around the globe. In order to find efficient, sustainable solutions to reduce occupational risks of waste workers, a methodological risk assessment has to be performed and counteractive measures have to be developed according to an internationally acknowledged hierarchy. From a case study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia suggestions for the transferral of collected household waste into roadside containers are given. With construction of ramps to dump collected household waste straight into roadside containers and an adaptation of pushcarts and collection procedures, the risk is tackled at the source.

Occupational Health and Safety of Workers in Municipal Solid Waste Management System

IJCMCR, 2020

The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) comprises with household garbage rubbish, street sweepings, sanitation residues, etc. Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) includes generation, storage, collection, transfer, transport and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste. In the processes of the MSWM, the waste disposal workers are playing a significant role. These employees are suffering from the infectious diseases such as allergic respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, the lower back, neck, knee pain etc. One of the major reasons for this situation is the inappropriate handling of the safety measures during the collection and disposal of waste by the workers. This leads more health related problems to the workers further affects social, economic condition of their families. Therefore, the general notion in the developing and underdeveloped countries is that the waste disposal workers are facing high risk in health and safety aspects in their occupational condition. Therefore, to study about the occupational related health and safety condition of the Municipal Solid Waste workers is need of the hour in the present scenario. In this aspect, this study focuses the occupational health and safety condition of the municipal solid waste workers in the Musiri Panchayat Union, Trichy district, Tamilnadu. Methodology: It is an empirical study and the data was collected from the respondents in the waste collecting points and the dumping places. The data was collected through the self-structured interview scheduled and observation methods. The total number of the respondents is 60, both male and female workers. Result: The workers are facing health related problems. The workers are not following even the minimum level of safety measures during waste collection and other processes. The male workers are having the habits of drinking alcohol and smoking, eating tobacco and the female workers are felt satisfy and security in their working place.