Solid Waste Workers Research Articles

Tracking bioaerosol exposure among municipal solid waste workers using hematological and inflammatory biomarkers

High levels of bioaerosols may exist in the air of municipal solid waste (MSW) management facilities, constituting a significant occupational hazard for workers. In this study, we investigated the potential association between exposure to bioaerosols and inflammatory biomarkers among municipal solid waste workers (MSWWs) at both the landfill site and the municipal solid waste transfer station (MSWTS), in comparison to a control group without exposure. Air sampling was conducted at six points around the landfill, two points at the MSWTS, and one point in a public park (as a control area) during the spring and summer of 2019. The results of our study revealed that airborne pathogens were highly prevalent at the sampling points, especially in the active zone and leachate collection pond. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungal species detected in this study, with the highest occurrence observed for Aspergillus flavus (83.3%), Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus fumigatus (75.0%). Furthermore, Staphylococcus species accounted for over 75% of the total bacterial bioaerosols detected across all study areas. The blood test results of workers revealed a significant increase in platelets (PLT), immunoglobulin G (IgG), white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, basophils, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) compared to the control group. Conversely, platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) in the exposed subjects exhibited a decreasing trend compared to the control group. These findings suggest a potential association between exposure to bioaerosols, particularly in the vicinity of open dumpsites, and elevated levels of hematologic and inflammatory markers in circulation. Furthermore, the influence of smoking status and confounding factors appears to be significant in both the control and exposure groups.

A pilot study on psychosocial factors and perceptions of organizational health among a sample of U.S. waste workers

Solid waste workers encounter a number of occupational hazards that are likely to induce stress. Thus, there are likely to be psychosocial factors that also contribute to their overall perceptions of organizational health. However, attitudes regarding the aforementioned among solid waste workers’ have not been assessed. This descriptive, cross-sectional pilot study operationalized the INPUTS Survey to determine workers’ perceptions of organizational health and other psychosocial factors of work. Percentage and mean responses to each INPUTS domain are presented in accordance with their survey manual. Pearson’s chi-squared tests were run on count data; Fisher’s exact tests were run for count data with fewer than five samples. ANOVAs were run on the continuous items. Due to a relatively low sample size (N = 68), two-sided p values < 0.1 were considered statistically significant. Most solid waste worker participants reported high decision authority, that they perceived their management to prioritize workplace health and safety, and had high job satisfaction. However, perceptions of support for health outside of the realm of occupational safety and health was lower. Addressing traditional occupational health hazards continues to take precedence in this industry, with less of a focus on how the social determinants of health may impact workplace health.

When Broken Worlds Churn: The Anti‐Caste Fabulations of Du Saraswathi

AbstractHow can literary fabulation prompt a reflection on caste, colonial, and capitalist lifeworlds? Engaging with two short stories by the Dalit feminist thinker Du Saraswathi, this article considers the role of fabulation in sparking anti‐caste praxis, decolonial thought, and a reflection on ecological interdependence. Bacchisu (“Tip”) and Honnahelu (“Shit and Gold”) are penned in the context of the sanitation workers’ movement in Karnataka, India and the ongoing struggles of waste workers to assert the dignity of their labour and their ancestral relations. Both stories capture the intimate worlds of solid waste and sewage workers, overwhelmingly from Dalit (ex‐untouchable) communities, as they navigate capitalist debris and the brokenness of caste society. They archive relations between caste overseers and contractual workers, the police and local bureaucracy, and peri‐urban ecologies. Saraswathi's writings explore such political concerns in ways that exceed the circumscribed realism of caste society—mingling Dalit culinary practices, embodied desires, rhythms of collective protest, rapturous encounters with spiritual beings, colonial legacies, and reproductive futures. In a context where Dalit testimonies are doubly silenced by the evidentiary procedures of postcolonial law and retributive violence, how can fabulation bear witness to an anti‐caste reality that integrates spiritual, ecological, and political struggles?

Fatal injuries associated with rear step riding among municipal solid waste collection workers (United States, 1984-2020).

United States solid waste workers suffer a high fatal injury rate due to their frequent exposures to refuse-vehicle-related hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows workers to ride on the rear steps of a garbage truck (exterior riding) if employers abide by American National Standard Z245.1 (ANSI Z245.1). The State of California (CA) has banned exterior riding since 1984, and the City of New York (NYC) has implemented its own initiatives to prevent exterior riding deaths. Fatal exterior riding incidents were identified from two online databases. Variables relating to deceased workers, employers, and injury circumstances were analyzed. The study identified 181 exterior riding deaths from 604 refuse-vehicle-related fatal incidents (deaths either directly caused by a refuse vehicle or one in which the victim was performing a refuse-vehicle-related task) in the United States (1984-2020). A total of 50 (27.6%) of the exterior riding deaths had no ANSI Z245.1 violations. Risk factors other than those addressed by ANSI Z245.1 contributed to these worker deaths. Exterior riding deaths identified by this study were all preventable. Temporary workers and workers in the public sector may be at higher risk for exterior riding deaths. Both CA and NYC had taken measures to prohibit the practice of exterior riding, and both had lower numbers of exterior riding deaths. ANSI Z245.1 and current OSHA enforcement policy do not address the inherent dangers of falling off a moving heavy vehicle while standing on a small and elevated platform, and are not effective in preventing fatal exterior riding incidents.

Magnitude and possible risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among street cleaners and solid waste workers: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn the absence of a standardized work environment, insurance system, occupational safety measures and expanding workload an uptrend of musculoskeletal disorders secondary to occupational hazards is observed among a wide range of occupations in developing countries including street sweepers/cleaners. The aim of this study is to determine the burden and potential factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among street cleaners/solid waste collectors in Gondar town, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to determine the burden and identify potential risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among street cleaners. Street cleaners (n = 422) working experience of at least one year were randomly selected from the community at their respective work sites (street). A face-to-face interview recorded the participant’s response addressing socio-demographic, occupational, job satisfaction, disability related to basic ADL, physical measurements, and self-reported pain using the Nordic-Musculoskeletal questionnaire. The logistic regression model was created to identify potential factors associated with self-reported MSDs.ResultsThe sample consists of women street sweepers/cleaners (100%, n = 422, response rate 100%) with at least one-year of work experience with a mean age of 37.03 ± 8.26. About 40% of women sweepers were illiterate and 95% reported no job satisfaction. The overall prevalence of MSDs was 73% (n = 308, 95% CI; 68.5, 77.2), among them nearly 65% reported having experienced disability in performing basic ADL in the past 12 months. Low back pain was the most prevalent region (n = 216, 70.1% case versus MSDs n = 308). In univariate and multivariate logistics analysis, being overweight/obese (AOR of 4.91 (95%, 2.22, 10.87)), age group 35 and above (AOR 2.534 (1.51, 4.26)), not-satisfied with job (AOR 2.66 (1.05, 6.75)), and street cleaning distance of longer than 2 km (AOR 2.82 (1.64, 4.83)) were significantly associated with self-reported musculoskeletal disorder..ConclusionThis study demonstrated higher self-reported MSDs among street sweepers/cleaners. Modifiable predictors like overweight, lack of job satisfaction, and cleaning longer distance were identified to be associated. Hence, there is a need for ergonomic measures and policy to curb these factors to reduce the burden of MSD among women street sweepers.

Associations between Poorer Mental Health with Work-Related Effort, Reward, and Overcommitment among a Sample of Formal US Solid Waste Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundEffort–reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment at work have been associated poorer mental health. However, nonlinear and nonadditive effects have not been investigated previously. MethodsThe association between effort, reward, and overcommitment with odds of poorer mental health was examined among a sample of 68 formal United States waste workers (87% male). Traditional, logistic regression and Bayesian Kernel machine regression (BKMR) modeling was conducted. Models controlled for age, education level, race, gender, union status, and physical health status. ResultsThe traditional, logistic regression found only overcommitment was significantly associated with poorer mental health (IQR increase: OR = 6.7; 95% CI: 1.7 to 25.5) when controlling for effort and reward (or ERI alone). Results from the BKMR showed that a simultaneous IQR increase in higher effort, lower reward, and higher overcommitment was associated with 6.6 (95% CI: 1.7 to 33.4) times significantly higher odds of poorer mental health. An IQR increase in overcommitment was associated with 5.6 (95% CI: 1.6 to 24.9) times significantly higher odds of poorer mental health when controlling for effort and reward. Higher effort and lower reward at work may not always be associated with poorer mental health but rather they may have an inverse, U-shaped relationship with mental health. No interaction between effort, reward, or overcommitment was observed. ConclusionWhen taking into the consideration the relationship between effort, reward, and overcommitment, overcommitment may be most indicative of poorer mental health. Organizations should assess their workers' perceptions of overcommitment to target potential areas of improvement to enhance mental health outcomes.

Solid waste management and gender dynamics: Evidence from rural Ghana

Proper solid waste management (SWM) is critical for sustainable environmental development. Despite high-level policy efforts and technical investments, unmanaged solid waste remains a problem in many developing countries including Ghana. The quantity of waste generated is increasing in rural areas due to increased population. However, most waste management studies have concentrated on cities, such as Accra, Lagos, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka and Tshwane. Also, missing in such studies is an understanding of the rural gender perspective in SWM. This paper explains why rural gender perspectives should inform future policies and initiatives on SWM. Drawing on an exploratory research design, evidence was gathered through observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Our findings show that women solid waste workers were denied access to training programs on the use of tricycles (one of the methods of collecting and transporting solid wastes) on the basis that it requires physical strength. Traditional gendered divisions of labour in solid waste management were not only limited to the domestic space but also the public spaces. Policies to improve solid waste management in developing countries should consider a gender lens. Public education towards changing attitudes and stereotypes about gender norms and practices of appropriate masculinity and femininity is critical as other technical changes. Gender-disaggregated data and analysis across all aspects of the SWM cycle are essential for developing sustainable policies and curbing gender inequalities.

Solid waste workers in India and the COVID-19 pandemic: A Review of Intersecting challenges

Introduction: Municipal garbage/refuse, sludge, industrial and commercial waste, etc. is termed Solid Waste (SW) and those who handle such waste are SW workers. But the COVID-19 pandemic has hit them hard. SW workers play a vital role in waste management to safeguard and promote public health. But they are often unappreciated and the various health risks and vulnerabilities associated with waste handling are overlooked. This study aimed to review the working conditions and morbidities of SW workers highlighting the longstanding challenges before and after the onset of COVID-19 in India. Methods: Databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar were used for the inclusion of articles. Drawing from the literature on the working conditions and morbidities of SW workers in India alongside grey literature and news reports by electronic media during the pandemic, this paper highlights the longstanding challenges of SW workers. Results: The health morbidities and structural challenges due to caste, and class that were reported as being faced by SW workers across the studies have worsened at the onset of COVID-19. There is a multiplying effect of their vulnerability due to the disadvantages of caste and class. Due to power dynamics, they were forced to work without proper wages and appropriate healthcare resources. Many incidents across the country reported stigma and discrimination; poor access and utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) among SW workers resulted in infections and deaths due to the pandemic. Lack of proper data on COVID-19 infected SW workers; lack of proper certification had halted their insurance claims. Conclusion: This paper noted the multiplying effect of long-standing vulnerabilities that were exposed during the pandemic. Proper maintenance of health records and a sustainable employee grievance redressal mechanism are essential. The need of the hour is to focus on strategies to improve their working conditions along with policies to protect their dignity and empower them.

Study on Occupational Health Hazards of Municipal Solid Waste Workers - A Review

Study on Occupational Health Hazards of Municipal Solid Waste Workers - A Review

Effort-Reward Imbalance among a Sample of Formal US Solid Waste Workers.

Background: Solid waste workers are exposed to a plethora of occupational hazards and may also experience work-related stress. Our study had three specific hypotheses: (1) waste workers experience effort–reward imbalance (ERI) with high self-reported effort but low reward, (2) unionized workers experience greater ERI, and (3) workers with higher income have lower ERI. Methods: Waste workers from three solid waste sites in Michigan participated in this cross-sectional study. We characterized perceived work stress using the short-version ERI questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and linear tests for trend were assessed for each scale. Linear regression models were constructed to examine the relationship between structural factors of work stress and ERI. Gradient-boosted regression trees evaluated which factors of effort or reward best characterize workers’ stress. Results: Among 68 participants, 37% of workers reported high effort and low reward from work (ERI > 1). Constant pressure due to heavy workload was most indicative of ERI among the solid waste workers. Union workers experienced 79% times higher ERI than non-unionized workers, while no significant differences were observed by income, after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Organizational-level interventions, such as changes related to workload, consideration of fair compensation, and increased support from supervisors, can decrease work stress.

ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG SOLID WASTE WORKERS IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL

Purpose: Risks occur at every step in the waste management process, from the point of collection at homes, during transportation and at the sites of recycling or disposal. This study aimed at assessing the occupational health and safety of solid waste workers in Abuja Municipal Area Council. &#x0D; Methods: Descriptive survey research was employed for the study. A sample population of 327 waste workers was obtained by using the Krejcie &amp; Morgan, (1970) model for sample size determination. The random sampling technique using the table of random numbers was employed in selecting the waste workers. The instrument used for this study was a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information on socio-demographic characteristics of waste workers, safety tools and hygiene practices, occupational injuries and diseases and awareness on Covid 19, disease. Descriptive statistics were employed in analyzing the data, with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).&#x0D; Results: The results were presented in tables and charts. The results revealed that aprons and face masks were the most commonly used PPE among waste workers. It accounted for 73% and 52% among the waste collectors/ sweepers respectively. Among the crewmen, it also accounted for 45% and 23% respectively. Only about 46 % of the waste workers take their baths after work. Injuries from vehicles accounted for the highest among the waste workers. This accounts for 34 % among the domestic waste collector/sweepers and 29% among the crewmen.&#x0D; Conclusion: The several types of occupational diseases among the solid waste workers include fatigue (78% among the domestic waste collector/sweepers and 66% among the crewmen), back pain, chest pain, and cough. There is a significant difference in the prevalence of occupational health diseases among solid waste workers.&#x0D; Recommendations: The study, recommends that waste workers should be trained on occupational and health safety and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) should be encouraged among the workers.

Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Pourakarmikas in Bengaluru, Karnataka: A Cross-sectional Study

Background In a metropolitan city like Bengaluru solid waste disposal is a challenging task and Pourakarmikas play an integral role in this. lsquoPourakarmikasrsquo is the terminology used for municipal solid waste workers in Karnataka referring to street sweepers who collect waste and carry out the cleaning of public places. It includes activities like collecting garbage recyclable materials and commercial amp industrial wastes. Municipal solid waste is collected manually requiring repeated heavy physical activity. Musculoskeletal problems are common among waste collectors. Hence the study was conducted to assess musculoskeletal disorders among Pourakarmikas.Methodology This cross-sectional study was carried from June to August 2022 among Pourakarmikas in Chickpet ward South zone Bengaluru using systematic random sampling method. The sample size was calculated according to the previous study by Reddy EM et al. and was rounded up to 140. The data was collected using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire which was entered into an excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS v27.0.Results 92.9 of the participants were females and 49 of the participants belonged to the age group 31-40 years. Among 140 Pourakarmikas included in the study 125 89.28 reported having musculoskeletal pain in the last year. Most of them belonged to lower socio-economic status and only a few were from the lower middle class.Conclusion The higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder among Pourakarmikas were mainly due to their nature of work and long hours of employment. The most frequently affected body regions were the lower back followed by knee joint upper back and shoulder joints. The symptoms were attributed to their work experience of more than 20 years followed by 5-10 years. Integrated health education including ergonomics and healthy work habits needs to be incorporated into a pre-health screening program.

Prevalence and Determinants of Occupational Injuries among Solid Waste Collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited.

Background Globally, occupational injuries account for 15% of the mortalities associated with occupational accidents. The work of the solid waste collectors exposes them to numerous occupational hazards, which results in injuries. Increasing rates of occupational injuries from 43.7% to 63.9% among solid waste collectors in sub-Saharan Africa opens room for more research to be done. The study assessed the magnitude of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in the Accra Metropolis. Methods A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out among the solid waste collectors. The occupational injuries and their associated factors among the solid waste collectors were assessed using questionnaires. Multistage sampling approach was used to select study respondents. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the dependent and independent variables. Results In this study, 21.79% (78/358) with 95% CI (0.1749, 0.2608) among the solid waste collectors reported having at least one work-related injury in the last 6 months. The factors that were significantly associated with at least one occupational injury among the solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis were work duty (collection and transportation), the zone of assignment for respondents, and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusion This study showed that the prevalence of occupational injuries among municipal solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis was lower as compared to similar research conducted in Ethiopia, Egypt, and India. Working in the collection and transportation category and lack of PPE for use at work were significantly and positively associated with occupational injury among the solid waste collectors. Again, working in the La Dade Kotopon zone had reduced odds of sustaining injuries as compared to those in the Ablekuma South zone. The result of the study demonstrated that cuts/puncture was the injury that was mostly sustained by the municipal solid waste workers, while the leg was the body part that was mostly injured followed by the hands. Public health education in the municipality should target solid waste collectors with the aim of improving their health-seeking behaviour.

Prevalence Rate of Hepatitis C Among the Solid Waste Handler in Wardha City.

Introduction:Solid waste workers are exposed to an extended variety of occupational hazards. Among these hazards is the infection from hepatitis A, B, or C viruses (HAV, HBV, or HCV). This relationship has been the study subject of many researchers around the world, given that the infection of hepatitis viruses is a significant cause of morbidity and a socio-economic burden. Solid waste handlers are usually at significant risk for multiple injuries and illnesses, including HIV and hepatitis, due to waste exposure to contaminated needles or sharp items that may contribute to the spread of the disease. A research in Brazil revealed that 12.8% of HBV exposure is prevalent in municipal solid waste handlers.Objectives:To assess the prevalence rate of hepatitis C among the solid waste handler in selected areas and associate the findings with selected demographic variables.Material and methods:This study was used as a cross-sectional research design. Hundred solid waste handlers participated in the study. The prevalence of hepatitis C was checked by the blood sampling and use method: HCV Ab Rapid Test. Data were analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2016. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Qualitative variables were described as numbers and percentages. Chi-square exact test was used for comparison between groups, as a quantitative variable was described as mean (± SD) and median.Results:10 (10%) of the waste handlers were reactive to hepatitis C virus, and 90 (90%) of the waste handlers were non-reactive to hepatitis C virus. The mean was 1.92 ± 0.27 for the prevalence of hepatitis C among solid waste handlers.Conclusion:A high prevalence of hepatitis C is revealed, particularly in people who have more working experience, exposure, and who do not use personal protective equipment while working around hepatitis C infected people. It is recommended that all the solid waste handlers use proper personal protective equipment, go for routine health check-ups, and should be trained on handling waste to reduce morbidity.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Occupational Health and Safety of Municipal Solid Waste Workers in Telangana, India.

Background:The occurrence of workplace hazards, occupational diseases, and deaths contribute significantly to the increase in the global burden of diseases. The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) workers experience occupational stressors throughout the process of waste management that affects their well-being and results in high rates of occupational health problems. It is vital to understand the workplace practices and occupational morbidities of the MSW workers to ensure their safety and well-being. In this context, the study aimed to explore the occupational health and safety practices at the place of work among the MSW workers in Karimnagar and Hyderabad in Telangana, India.Methodology:A cross-sectional study was conducted in two cities of Telangana. A total of 394 MSW workers were surveyed. The number of MSW workers in Karimnagar and Hyderabad were 152 and 194, respectively. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to the MSW workers to study the occupational morbidities and workplace safety practices. Focused group discussions were conducted among the MSW workers in both cities. In-depth interviews of sanitary supervisors in Karimnagar were conducted. Semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides were used with questions on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, work environment, protection strategy, and healthcare utilization. MS Excel and NVivo-12 were used for data analysis.Results:Musculoskeletal problem was the major reported morbidity among the MSW workers (76.6%). Injuries were reported more among the MSW workers in Hyderabad (39.7%) along with a fear of being hit by vehicles while working on the main roads. About 88.7% of the MSW workers had less than secondary education. There was a wage difference between the contract and permanent MSW workers. There was a lack of provision of personal protective equipment and poor working conditions, overall. Lack of basic amenities such as the provision of drinking water and toilets apart from inadequate social security and healthcare facilities was reported.Conclusion:This paper highlights the unsatisfactory working environment and high-occupational morbidities among the MSW workers in Telangana. There was a lack of basic amenities at the workplace making it difficult for the MSW workers. A comprehensive approach which focuses on the health and safety with social security for the MSW workers is required.

Solid waste management practices and challenges in seven cities of Nepal before and during lockdown against COVID-19 pandemic

The nationwide lockdown imposed to control the spread of novel coronavirus induced dramatic alterations in different sectors of the Nepalese governance, including Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices. The study identifies SW collection gaps in seven major cities of Nepal and highlights the municipal and public households on SW management practices before and during the lockdown to emphasize the linkage between COVID-19 and SWM. It includes information on solid waste status, collection frequency and coverage, workers' safety practices, types of vehicles operated for collection and alternative methods adopted by households to manage SW during the lockdown. For this, 1329 households survey and key informant interviews were conducted in seven cities of Nepal during the lockdown. It was found that although the coverage of the collection service was similar during the pandemic in surveyed households, there was a drastic decrease in the collection frequency leading to a collection gap of around 570 tons/day. More than 50% of the surveyed households adopted no proper alternative measures as they claimed that they stored solid waste with proper management so that municipal authorities can take it. While other 50% adopted practices such as open burning, throwing in streets or composting. The study reveals poor occupational health and safety practices among solid waste workers due to the unavailability of safety gear and equipment despite being aware of the modes of transmission of the virus. The pandemic exacerbated the challenges of smooth SWM as it is an essential and needy service. This study highlights the need for a timely strategic management framework to be developed by the government to continue the smooth SWM practices during the lockdown.

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

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 examination (respiratory system and skin) in addition to spirometric measurements and complete blood count. A total of 275 exposed solid waste workers and 275 controls were included. A significantly higher prevalence of symptoms regarding respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal, and dermatological systems were detected among the exposed group than the controls (P<0.05). Significantly lower levels of RBCs, Hb, HCT, and MCH were reported among the exposed group than the controls (P<0.05). Among the exposed group vs. controls, FEV1 reported 99.75±13.35 vs. 104.83±10.47 (P<0.001), FEV1/FVC% reported 98.88±15.32 vs. 102.72±14.36 (P=0.003), FEF25-75% reported 99.64±17.06 vs. 103.07±19.38 (P=0.029), and PEF% reported 58.73±16.31 vs. 62.12±12.91 (P=0.007). Unsatisfactory knowledge was reported among 64% of solid waste workers, 69.1% had negative attitude, and 73.8% had unsafe practice. KAP was significantly higher post than pre-health education (P<0.001). Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections were common among solid waste workers. Assessment of KAP towards management of wastes, transmission of infection, exposure to sharps, and safety measures showed poor levels that got improved after health education. To maintain good health among solid waste workers, direct supervision with periodic medical examination and focused continuous health education are required.

Health Conditions of Landfills Workers, Lagos State, Nigeria

This study investigated health conditions of landfills workers in Lagos State, Nigeria. The adverse effects of different management practices particularly from landfills are enormous with such concerns on health conditions of workers prompted the interest of this paper. The objective was to identify the causative agents associated with diseases occurring amongst landfill workers and to evaluate its potential health issues including psychological effects, diseases, and accidents of solid waste on humans while also identifying types of sicknesses amongst workers at Landfill Sites in Lagos State. The research design adopted was a survey descriptive method. Convenience sampling technique was employed to select 336 respondents using questionnaire which was structured on a 2-6-point Likert Scale. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged between 0.727 and 0.930. The response rate was 75.5% and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data gathered were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) via Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The result obtained indicate a significant and positive relationship between causative agents associated with diseases and landfill workers in Lagos State. Results also showed a positive correlation between potential health effects and landfill workers in Lagos State. It further showed that the levels of heavy metals in the soil were within acceptable limit relative to World Health Organization’s standard. It is also noted that people living and doing business in the landfill were at risk from diseases. Microbial organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella Sp, Klebsiella Sp, Staphylcoccus aureus and Psendomonas Sp were also isolated. Provision of solid waste workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), restriction of access to landfill sites, and review of existing laws to ensure compliance are strongly recommended.

A Comparative Study of Prevalence of Morbidities among Municipal Solid Waste Workers in Mumbai

Paper investigates the association between labour intensive work of solid waste collection and street sweeping with the development of skin disease, respiratory disease, eye infection, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and MSDs-related disabilities during the service. A primary survey was conducted with 540 municipal employees adopting multistage stratified systematic sampling in 6 out of 24 municipal wards in Mumbai. The data was collected between March and September 2015, and analysis was performed in STATA13. The prevalence of self-reported morbidities among municipal workers varies from 7 to 46% in the reference period of the past 6 and 12 months. Adjusted odds of major morbidities show that the waste collectors significantly more likely to have injury/accident (OR = 11.36; p < 0.01), skin disease (OR = 4.971; p < 0.01), eye infections (OR = 3.03; p < 0.01) and MSDs (OR = 2.04; p < 0.05) in reference to comparison group. Similarly, street sweepers significantly more likely to have injury/accident (OR = 4.08; p < 0.01), skin disease (OR = 4.50; p < 0.01), respiratory disease (OR = 2.63; p < 0.01), MSDs (OR = 2.17; p < 0.01) and disability (OR = 1.92; p < 0.05) in reference to comparison group. Propensity score matching method analysis suggests that the waste collecting and street sweeping occupation significantly increases the prevalence of morbidities among exposed workers than the matched non-exposed workers. The mean expenditure on treatment of morbidities show that street sweepers spends significantly (p < 0.05) higher amount of money for injury/accident, eye infections and MSDs followed by waste collectors compared with comparison group. Workers associated with the street sweeping and waste collecting occupation has higher burden of developing morbidities and health expenditure compared with other occupation.

Biochemical changes among municipal solid waste sorting workers: implications for personal protective equipment availability and use

Background. Solid waste management has emerged as one of the greatest challenges facing human and environmental health. Municipal solid waste workers are potentially exposed to a variety of occupational biohazards and safety risks in the workplace. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and some biochemical changes among solid waste sorting workers. Methods. A group of solid waste sorting workers was interviewed and checked for availability, use and appropriateness of PPE using a structured questionnaire and checklist. Workers were tested for hepatic and renal function parameters and biomarkers of allergy and inflammation. Results. The level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) as a biomarker of inflammation was elevated in 12.9% while total serum immunoglobulin E was obviously high among most workers (79.2%). Workers with inadequately available, used or effective PPE were more likely to have morbidities and showed elevated serum levels of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, urea, creatinine, hsCRP and total immunoglobulin E. Conclusions. Elevated biomarkers of allergy and inflammation herald preclinical disease risks that should be included in basic health surveillance. Use of PPE should be emphasized for workers involved in solid waste sorting to effectively protect their health.