Health Conditions of Landfills Workers, Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated health conditions of landfills workers in Lagos State, Nigeria. The adverse effects of different management practices particularly from landfills are enormous with such concerns on health conditions of workers prompted the interest of this paper. The objective was to identify the causative agents associated with diseases occurring amongst landfill workers and to evaluate its potential health issues including psychological effects, diseases, and accidents of solid waste on humans while also identifying types of sicknesses amongst workers at Landfill Sites in Lagos State. The research design adopted was a survey descriptive method. Convenience sampling technique was employed to select 336 respondents using questionnaire which was structured on a 2-6-point Likert Scale. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged between 0.727 and 0.930. The response rate was 75.5% and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data gathered were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) via Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The result obtained indicate a significant and positive relationship between causative agents associated with diseases and landfill workers in Lagos State. Results also showed a positive correlation between potential health effects and landfill workers in Lagos State. It further showed that the levels of heavy metals in the soil were within acceptable limit relative to World Health Organization’s standard. It is also noted that people living and doing business in the landfill were at risk from diseases. Microbial organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella Sp, Klebsiella Sp, Staphylcoccus aureus and Psendomonas Sp were also isolated. Provision of solid waste workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), restriction of access to landfill sites, and review of existing laws to ensure compliance are strongly recommended.