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Occupational injuries among urban recyclers
1Old Town Clinic, Portland, OR 97209, USA.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Urban recycling has emerged as a new trade, leading to a distinct pattern of severe injuries among practitioners. Many of these injuries, including lacerations and infections, are preventable.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Urban Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Urban recycling is a growing sector, creating new employment opportunities.
- The health and safety implications for urban recyclers are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the emergence of urban recycling as a trade.
- To identify and characterize the pattern of injuries sustained by urban recyclers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review at an urban homeless health center.
- Convenience survey of urban recyclers.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of severe injuries, including lacerations, infections, needle sticks, and blunt trauma.
- Injuries are costly, with some cases being lethal.
- Many identified injuries are preventable.
Conclusions:
- Urban recycling represents a new trade with a unique injury profile.
- Interventions are needed to prevent severe and costly injuries in this population.