Occupational hazards of municipal solid waste workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational health and safety
• Environmental health
• Waste management science

Background:

• Municipal solid waste (MSW) removal presents significant physical, chemical, and biological hazards.
• Municipal solid waste workers (MSWWs) experience higher fatal occupational injury rates than the general workforce.
• Common non-fatal injuries include musculoskeletal disorders, fractures, ocular trauma, and bites, alongside skin and gastrointestinal diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the occupational hazards faced by municipal solid waste workers.
• To identify common injury types and diseases prevalent in this workforce.
• To underscore the need for protective measures in municipal solid waste management.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on occupational hazards in municipal solid waste removal.
• Analysis of injury and disease patterns among municipal solid waste workers.
• Identification of exposure risks at municipal solid waste incinerators.

Main Results:

• MSWWs face elevated risks of fatal injuries and a high prevalence of non-fatal musculoskeletal injuries.
• Workers are exposed to hazardous substances like heavy metals, dust, dioxins, furans, and mutagens, particularly at incinerators.
• The full extent of morbidity from occupational exposure to bioaerosols and carcinogens remains undetermined.

Conclusions:

• Implementing safety procedures and personal protective equipment is essential for MSWWs.
• Further research is needed to quantify the morbidity burden from bioaerosols and carcinogens.
• Enhanced safety protocols are critical for reducing occupational risks in the waste management sector.