Occupational health problems of municipal solid waste management workers in India

Thayyil, Jayakrishnan; Jeeja, Mathummal Cherumanalil; Bhaskar, Rao

doi:10.4103/2277-9183.122430

Cited by 84 publications

(90 citation statements)

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“…In the absence of any studies on MSDs among the street sweepers, the results of the present study are comparable with the other studies conducted among the solid waste workers except in the case of knee and ankle disorders 34 11 27 28 This may be because the street sweepers are not engaged in lifting heavy loads continuously or for carrying them for long duration, as a result of which they do not put as much pressure on the knees and ankles as those engaged in solid waste collection. A cross-sectional study conducted in Iran among 217 municipal solid waste workers showed a higher prevalence of the MSDs for lower back (45%), knees (29%), shoulders (24%), upper back (23%) and neck (22%) as compared with the comparison group 5.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…A cross-sectional study conducted in Iran among 217 municipal solid waste workers showed a higher prevalence of the MSDs for lower back (45%), knees (29%), shoulders (24%), upper back (23%) and neck (22%) as compared with the comparison group 5. A similar study conducted in India among 313 waste workers concluded that the prevalence of MSDs was higher among the solid waste workers, particularly for the knees (39%), lower back (33%), shoulders (30%), elbows (27%), ankles (22%), wrists (21%) and neck (17%) 11. These findings are in tune with the present study in offering the evidence that workers associated with municipal solid waste management have higher MSDs compared with the general population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The estimated sample size was 180 with a prevalence rate of 30 and a design effect of 1.25 11. Applying stratified systematic random sampling design, the required sample was collected randomly from 6 out of 24 municipal wards of the MCGM based on the proportion of the slum population to the total population.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the exposure of street sweeping and potential risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders and related disabilities: a cross-sectional study

Salve

Chokhandre

2016

BMJ Open

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ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the exposure of those involved in street sweeping to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and related disabilities and tries to identify the individual risk factors thereof.DesignA cross-sectional survey was conducted among street sweepers together with a comparison group. A modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was adopted to measure the prevalence of MSDs and related disabilities. The impact of the occupation of sweeping on the development of MSDs and related disabilities was assessed using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify the individual risk factors.ParticipantsStreet sweepers (n=180) and a comparison group (n=180), working for at least a year as formal employees of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), were randomly selected from 6 municipal wards.ResultsThe prevalence of the MSDs was significantly higher among the sweepers for shoulders (32%), wrists/hands (29%), elbows (27%) and neck (17%) compared with the comparison group, in which the prevalence was 11%, 19%, 9% and 11%, respectively. The disabilities too were significantly higher among the street sweepers for the lower back (27%), upper back (27%), wrists/hands (26%), shoulders (24%) and elbows (23%) compared with the comparison group, for which the figures were 18%, 19%, 13%, 9% and 6% respectively. The PSM method highlighted that the occupation of sweeping raised the risk of developing MSDs and disabilities particularly for the shoulders (17–16%), wrists/hands (14% each), elbows (13% each) and the upper back (12–13%). After adjusting the age, body mass index and the caste of the street sweepers, the number of years of engagement in street sweeping and the location of work emerged as potential risk factors in the development of MSDs and, thereby, related disabilities.ConclusionsThe study concluded that the occupation of street sweeping raises the risk of MSDs and related disabilities. This study recommends preventive and curative measures to deal with MSDs among street sweepers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

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Assessing the exposure of street sweeping and potential risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders and related disabilities: a cross-sectional study

Salve

Chokhandre

2016

BMJ Open

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“…This limits human risks to musculoskeletal disorders due to poor postures. However, most developing countries rely on manual waste collection systems (Sabde & Zodpey, 2008;Jayakrishnan, Jeeja, & Bhaskar, 2013), which may contribute to WRMDs due to use of unsafe postures. An investigation to identify such postures may inform waste managers on required interventions to safeguard the occupational health of MSWHs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postural Analysis of a Developing Country’s Municipal Solid Waste Handlers and a Reference Group of Hospital General Hands using the RULA Method

Ncube

Voyi

2017

GJHS

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Background: Municipal solid waste handlers perform various work activities which may contribute to the onset of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). This study conducted a postural analysis of these workers and a reference group of hospital general hands in order to identify unsafe working postures requiring correction. Methods:The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methodology was used for postural analysis to 30 municipal solid waste handlers (MSWHs) and a reference group of 30 hospital general hands (HGHs) involved in similar work activities. Field observations and photography were used to collect data. Collected data was analysed using STATA version 13. Results:The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the two groups. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for lifting, carrying and emptying activities. For both groups, the mean postural scores for pushing, pulling and standing activities were mainly in the low risk category and not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion:Results of the present study show unsafe RULA postural scores to MSWHs with regard to lifting, carrying and emptying of refuse bins. Such scores are suggestive of an elevated risk to developing WRMDs in these workers compared to the reference group.

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“…Several authors highlighted the occupational health problems and injuries occurred among solid waste collectors. For instance, Jayakrishnan et al, (2013) assessed the occupational health problems of municipal solid waste management workers in India. They resulted that occupation related morbidities like falls, accidents, and injuries were high.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the physical demands of waste collection tasks

2015

Global NEST Journal

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This study features an analysis of the influences and effects of different postures performed within tasks of waste collection. Four men, ages 30, 46, 60 and 65, and two women, ages 38 and 48, took part in this study. The assessment makes use of a 3D Static Strength Prediction Program (3DSSPP™) to analyze the lifting and dumping postures observed in the experiment and evaluate strength requirements and the lower back impact of the different tasks. Additional analysis tools Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) were used to assess the risks associated with the tasks, and assessing the usability of this tool-setup to evaluate this kind of tasks with respect to the results expected. 3DSSPP results showed that only 86% of the population would be able to lift 9kg in this posture and 96% of the population would be capable of performing dumping. The results obtained using RULA and REBA indicated that the lifting and dumping postures are in need of change as soon as possible. Overall, this paper evaluates the postural risks of waste collection tasks mainly considering lifting and dumping tasks and assesses the physiological impacts on waste collection task performance.

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Occupational health problems of municipal solid waste management workers in India

Cited by 84 publications

References 0 publications

Assessing the exposure of street sweeping and potential risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders and related disabilities: a cross-sectional study

Assessing the exposure of street sweeping and potential risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorders and related disabilities: a cross-sectional study

Postural Analysis of a Developing Country’s Municipal Solid Waste Handlers and a Reference Group of Hospital General Hands using the RULA Method

Assessment of the physical demands of waste collection tasks

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