Sweeping practices, perceptions and knowledge about occupational safety and health hazards of street sweepers in Dhaka city, Bangladesh: a qualitative inquiry

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONWork related safety and health hazards are a major public health concern worldwide and are under-researched especially in low and middle income countries. 1 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 58 percent of the global population spends one-third of their time at work during adulthood.2 Therefore, the issue of work related safety has gathered increasing attention in the public health domain. The prevalence and incidence of injuries and deaths have gradually risen over the years -approximately 0.9-2.3 million work related deaths were estimated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) worldwide in 2003.3 Furthermore, the ILO reported in the same year that there were an estimated 358,000 fatal occupational accidents, 337 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases worldwide. 4 Higher prevalence of injuries and death were ABSTRACT Background: Street sweepers play important roles for keeping the cities clean. Their works entail removing of debris from streets, collecting solid waste, disposing and recycling waste material. Consequently, they have higher chances to be exposed to numerous risk factors; therefore, their occupational safety and health hazard became crucial. There is little evidence about the sweeping practices, perceptions and knowledge on their occupational safety and health hazards. The objective of the study is to explore current sweeping practices, perceived risk and the level of knowledge of a group of street sweepers of Dhaka city. Methods: An explorative qualitative research design was used. We conducted 15 IDIs, 8 KIIs and 5 FGDs with Telegu street sweepers, community and religious leaders and NGO workers in two different sweeper colonies in Dhaka City. Results: Due to the manual handling process, the street sweepers are often exposed to a variety of risks factorsexhaust fumes, extreme noise, toxic substances and dust particles. Frequent infections and injuries were reported commonly as they lack basic safety equipment's during works. Low perceived health hazards were prevalent. Strong faith-based explanations were found to rationalize possible health hazards. Conclusions: A number of socio-economic factors influence the level of knowledge and risk perception. Interventions on awareness building program coupled with behaviour change counselling (BCC) activities would be appropriate to address the lack of knowledge on health hazards and low risks perception.

Occupational health hazards of street cleaners – a literature review considering prevention practices at the workplace

“…In addition, in order to prevent mental stress, further action and recommendations are needed in the areas of human resources management and work organization. Psychological and mental effects based on improper management, the intensity of work, or inadequate interactions within the working team could result in psycho-somatic disorders hardly indistinguish-aspects of safety, simplification, productivity and effectiveness of prevention practices at the workplace in general were addressed in a recent comprehensive article from Italy [54], the main statement being: "Although reducing prevention is never justified, it should still be 'sustainable' economically in order to avoid waste of resources." As shown by the VerEna-based study, prevention must be integrated and practicable in all day-to-day operations in order to be successful.…”

Hazard Identification and Risk of Work Assessment on Street Sweeper in Medan City

“…According to the research of Ashraful Kabir at all in Bangladesh, it showed that the street sweepers are often exposed to a variety of risk factors fumes, noise, toxic substances and dust particles. They also lack of safety equipment, low effort to safety obtained and low health efforts gained [15].…”

What is Life for Job Order Street Sweepers in the City Governments of Davao Region? A Phenomenological Study

“…Just like what the sweepers in Davao Region, they are often exposed to a variety of risks factors such as exhaust fumes, extreme noise, toxic substances and dust particles. The lack of basic safety equipment during work was emphasized by Kabir (2015) [36] why the sweepers are commonly affected of frequent infections and injuries. To add with, a sad situation in Cambodia was documented in Oxfam in Cambodia (2015) detailing the life of the street workers who work under the heat of the sun around 37 to 41 degrees Celsius.…”

“…Unknown to many, street sweepers play significant roles in our society. Removing of debris from streets, collecting solid waste, disposing and recycling waste material are just some of the works entailed in their job (Kabir, Farhana, Akter, Jesmin, & Ali , 2015) [36]. For big cities, Sabde and Zodpey (2008) [68] recognized the role of the street sweepers as very significant in maintaining the health and hygiene of the cities.…”

“…They could ignore the foul odor but the possibility of acquiring illness is high because of the contract diseases obtained from the garbage they have to clean. Subsequently, since the working place of street sweepers are so hazardous they are most likely to suffer health accidents aside from the fact that they become prone in getting trouble with robbers, drug addicts and hooligans (Kabir et al, 2015) [36]. Unfortunately in reality, many if not all countries in the world, a street sweeper who is doing risky tasks is not covered with sufficient protection, compensation and benefits.…”