Waste management, COVID-19 and occupational safety and health: Challenges, insights and evidence

Beckert, Aline do Nascimento; Barros, Virgínia Grace

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154862

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It has been shown that the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among these workers is greatest during garbage collection, mechanical handling of compactor trucks, and garbage unloading at the disposal site [10]. In addition, issues related to educational level and personal hygiene, the lack of official safety guidelines, and problems with the and the incidence of the disease on collection routes, especially in the regions with worse socioeconomic indicators [11]. There is, therefore, a need for collective effortsa collective effort involving the general population, service providers, and local government to control the spread of COVID-19 arising from the management of waste collection in cities [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, issues related to educational level and personal hygiene, the lack of official safety guidelines, and problems with the supply and control of the use of personal protective equipment by companies are factors that can increase the risk of contamination among these individuals. In a study carried out in the city of São Paulo between March 2020 and March 2021, a positive correlation was observed between the number of household waste collection workers with COVID-19 and the incidence of the disease on collection routes, especially in the regions with worse socioeconomic indicators [ 11 ]. There is, therefore, a need for collective efforts involving the general population, service providers, and local government to control the spread of COVID-19 arising from the management of waste collection in cities [ 12 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during transmission of the Omicron variant in Brazil

Martins-Filho¹,

Santos²,

Rezende³

et al. 2023

Epidemiol Health

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This study estimated the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during the transmission of the Omicron variant in one of the poorest regions of Brazil (the state of Sergipe). Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 494 workers, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was tested by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, vaccination status, mask use, and use of public transport to commute to the workplace were collected. The prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated from the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases among the total number of individuals tested. The prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% CI was the measure of association used to evaluate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the exposure variables. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 22.5% (95% CI, 19.0%–26.4%). Individuals under the age of 40 had a higher prevalence of infection (PR=1.53; 95% CI, 1.03–2.30) as well as those who did not believe in the protective effect of vaccines (PR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.05–2.89). Our results indicate the need for better guidance on preventive measures against COVID-19 among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during transmission of the Omicron variant in Brazil

Martins-Filho¹,

Santos²,

Rezende³

et al. 2023

Epidemiol Health

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“…In the last five years, development agencies and researchers have shown growing concerns about the welfare and livelihoods of waste and sanitation workers. In São Paulo, researchers recently proved that waste workers could be at high occupational risk [30]. Other critical observations from Nigeria even show a lack of recognition [31,32], policy gaps [33], and an absence of government support [32] for some waste worker groups during the Pandemic.…”

Section: Research On Waste and Sanitation Worker's Safety And Wellbeingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational health and safety status of waste and sanitation workers: A qualitative exploration during the COVID-19 pandemic across Bangladesh

Sharior

Alam²,

Zaqout³

et al. 2023

PLOS Water

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In Bangladesh, cities produce huge volumes of solid waste, sewage, and greywater with limited resources to manage it. Waste and sanitation workers, key players in managing waste, are continuously exposed to different health hazards in their work due to lack of occupational safety and basic protections. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Focusing on workers’ experiences and everyday working realities, this study sought to assess the organizational capacity, gaps, and challenges of local waste management authorities during COVID-19. It also sought to deepen understanding of job arrangements, occupational safety, hygiene knowledge, and practices of these waste workers at their workplace. A qualitative study was conducted consisting of 61 key informant interviews with seven categories of local officials and 50 in-depth interviews with five categories of waste and sanitation workers in 10 cities of Bangladesh. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted. The results showed that COVID-19 had aggravated the existing waste management challenges and imposed severe health risks on waste workers. Respective conservancy departments lagged behind due to lack of safe cleaning methods and equipment, and limited funds for waste worker training, which ultimately led to poor occupational safety for workers. This vulnerable worker group lacked basic job facilities, received poor payment and insufficient protective equipment, and rarely had any health support from their employers. Also, they were not provided with an adequate understanding of occupational safety and health hygiene; and no appropriate handwashing facilities at their workplace to tackle infectious diseases like COVID-19. The study investigated this countercomplaint and discussed the current arrangements from the prespective of both city authorities and waste workers. The study recommended more automated waste collectors and compositors for the conservancy departments, increased active monitoring, work benefits, safety equipment for waste workers, and tailored training to eradicate work-related health hazards and injuries.

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“…Constant population expansion implies increased solid waste (SW) generation and demands policymakers to harness consistent and valuable tools for measuring and monitoring solid waste management (SWM). Sanitation actions, such as SWM and treatment, are related to public health (Beckert and Barros, 2022; Breukelman et al, 2022). Wilke et al (2020) found that garbage is a productive aquatic habitat for the proliferation of Aedes aegypti .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid waste management and Aedes aegypti infestation interconnections: A regression tree application

2023

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Public health is at the core of all environmental and anthropic impacts. Urban and territorial planners should include public health concerns in their plans. Basic sanitation infrastructure is essential to maintaining public health and social and economic development. This infrastructure deficiency causes diseases, death and economic losses in developing countries. Framing interconnections among health, sanitation, urbanization and circular economy will assist sustainable development goal achievements. This study aims to identify the relationships between solid waste management indicators in Brazil and the Aedes aegypti mosquito infestation index. Regression trees were employed for modelling due to the complexity and characteristics of the data. The analyses were performed separately from data collected from 3501 municipalities and 42 indicators from the country’s five regions. Results show that expenses and personnel indicators were the most critical indicators (in the mid-western, southeastern and southern regions), operational (northeastern (NE) region) and management (northern region). The mean absolute errors ranged from 0.803 (southern region) to 2.507 (NE region). Regional analyses indicate that the municipalities with better SWM results display lower infestation rates in buildings and residences. This research is innovative as it analyses infestation rates rather than dengue prevalence, using a machine learning method, in a multidisciplinary research field that needs further study.

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Waste management, COVID-19 and occupational safety and health: Challenges, insights and evidence

Cited by 15 publications

References 41 publications

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during transmission of the Omicron variant in Brazil

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during transmission of the Omicron variant in Brazil

Occupational health and safety status of waste and sanitation workers: A qualitative exploration during the COVID-19 pandemic across Bangladesh

Solid waste management and Aedes aegypti infestation interconnections: A regression tree application

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