“Our Work, Our Health, No One’s Concern”: Domestic Waste Collectors’ Perceptions of Occupational Safety and Self-Reported Health Issues in an Urban Town in Ghana

Lissah, Samuel Yaw; Ayanore, Martin Amogre; Krugu, John K.; Aberese-Ako, Matilda; Ruiter, Robert A. C.

doi:10.3390/ijerph19116539

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…An estimated 2.3 million waste pickers annually die from the negative effects of their job worldwide, with an estimated 270 million suffering from occupational injuries, accidents, and diseases (Lissah et al, 2022). Risks can arise at any point during the process, including during transportation, at the locations where waste is collected from households, and during recycling or disposal.…”

Section: Occupational Health Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gowda¹,

Gurusiddappa²,

Kalikeri³

2023

World J Environ Biosci

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Occupational health hazards refer to possible adverse health impacts one undergoes in their working environment. Annually 2.1 billion tons of waste is produced around the world which is usually managed by municipal solid waste workers (MSW) or municipal workers. Managing the waste produced is not an easy task as they work tirelessly. The municipal workers undergo many occupational hazards due to their poor working conditions, poor health and hygiene facilities, lack of proper protective equipment, and less or zero knowledge of proper waste management techniques. The occupational risks include biological risks from pathogens and pathogen-carrying agents such as viruses, bacteria, flies, and rodents; chemical risks from wastes such as biomedical wastes, soaps and detergents, and other poisonous substances and physiological risks due to their working conditions and heavy physiological activity. The health problems of municipal solid waste workers can be classified into musculoskeletal, respiratory, headaches, and dermatological and gastrointestinal problems. Prolonged exposure may lead to problems such as allergies, stomach pain, asthma, and other diseases. Poor working conditions, education, and socioeconomic conditions also act as factors that increase the risk of occupational hazards. This article emphasizes on the types of various health impacts through which municipal workers undergo throughout their work.

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Section: Occupational Health Hazardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Gowda¹,

Gurusiddappa²,

Kalikeri³

2023

World J Environ Biosci

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“…Lifting is shown by 24% being the second highest proportion whereby the refuse collectors in Murewa RDC are involved in a lot of manual work as they carry plastic and metal bins with waste thereby affecting their well-being. In a related study conducted in the United Kingdom, Lissah et al [18] observed that accidents such as cutting and trios due to lifting and moving solid waste bins are prevalent amongst solid waste collection workers. Handling of waste collection cans and related materials subjects' workers to several occupational injuries.…”

Section: The Causes Of Injuries and Illnesses To Solid Waste Manageme...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Occupational Safety and Health Hazards encountered by Municipal Waste Collectors in Murewa Rural District Council, Zimbabwe

Intauno,

Poshai

2023

International Journal of Law and Public Policy

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The failure of Zimbabwean local authorities to implement contemporary waste management technology, combined with refuse management incapacity exposes handlers of solid waste to work-related diseases and accidents. The study sought to use Murewa Rural District Council (RDC) as a case study and a mixed-method that triangulated qualitative and quantitative research methodologies was employed as a method of inquiry. The study established that, in Murewa, there is an irregular garbage collection schedule which results in piles of uncollected refuse on roadsides, street corners and other undesignated areas. The illegal dumping of refuse and overflowing of garbage bins have become an eyesore in Murewa Township Centre. The people employed to clean this mess are often ill equipped to clean the garbage in hygienic ways as they often use their bare hands to shovel the garbage from dumpsites and overloaded bins into the refuse collection trucks. In doing this, these workers are exposed to biological hazards such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites and cysts. To minimise the associated hazards, the study suggests, among other things, that the Murewa Rural District Council should improve workplace safety and health for employees by modifying workplace and process design and by adhering to the hazard identification and risk assessment methodology.

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Harnessing the foundation of biomedical waste management for fostering public health: strategies and policies for a clean and safer environment

Singh,

YT,

Mishra

et al. 2024

Discov Appl Sci

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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an enormous rise in biomedical waste and plastic trash production. The sudden increase in the production of waste vehicles carrying the same for disposal presented major challenges for the current waste disposal systems, particularly in developing countries. Due to the COVID-19 health emergency, the significance of appropriate waste management has become more evident. This review aims to showcase all aspects of biomedical waste, including its management, safe disposal approaches, the risks associated with improper waste management, and other hazards from hospitals, labs, and the environment. The focus has been laid on the possible role of laboratories in hospitals, research, and academic institutions directly and indirectly involved in handling biomedical items. It is pertinent to mention that policies relating to biomedical waste management must be renewed periodically for updates and to incorporate new research and system development points. In the present review, establishing collaboration among hospitals, laboratories, and research staff is vital for proper waste management in healthcare facilities. The review demonstrates the contemporary directions in biomedical waste treatment and safe disposal methods, especially incineration, autoclaving, chemical disinfection, and land disposal. Good laboratory practices and techniques for destroying needles, shredders, encapsulation, and inertization are also covered. The significance of biomedical waste management policies in promoting environmentally responsible and safe practices and amendments to these policies has been emphasized.

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“Our Work, Our Health, No One’s Concern”: Domestic Waste Collectors’ Perceptions of Occupational Safety and Self-Reported Health Issues in an Urban Town in Ghana

Cited by 8 publications

References 42 publications

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

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

Examining the Occupational Safety and Health Hazards encountered by Municipal Waste Collectors in Murewa Rural District Council, Zimbabwe

Harnessing the foundation of biomedical waste management for fostering public health: strategies and policies for a clean and safer environment

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