Al-Khatib Issam A, Al-Sari' Majed I, Kontogianni Stamatia
Institute of Environmental and Water Studies, Birzeit University, Birzeit, State of Palestine.
Universal Institute for Applied and Health Research (UIAHR), The Joint Service Council for Solid Waste Management for Hebron and Bethlehem Governorates (JSC-H&B), Bethlehem, State of Palestine.
J Environ Public Health. 2020 Feb 24;2020:3780431. doi: 10.1155/2020/3780431. eCollection 2020.
This study deals with the occupational health and safety of valuable and recyclable waste collectors (called scavengers) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The analytical descriptive approach was used in this study to achieve this goal. Waste pickers in the study area are working informally at existing dumpsites, solid waste transfer stations, landfills, and community streets' bins areas. A sample of 301 scavengers was surveyed filling a structured questionnaire designed for this purpose, during individual interviews. In addition, interviews with key Palestinian officials in the Gaza Strip have been conducted to provide accurate data and comprehensive information regarding waste pickers activities. The results showed that the occupational health and safety of the waste pickers is in constant deterioration mainly due to the informal nature of their work. The waste pickers are reportedly suffering in the current situation and the majority has no access to potable water, sanitation, and hygienically appropriate place to sleep and have meals. None of them has ever received occupational health and safety training. The study recommends that local decision makers should uptake short-term and long-term measures in waste management sector both aiming at improving this vulnerable social group's health and safety life status.
本研究关注的是巴勒斯坦加沙地带珍贵可回收垃圾收集者（称为拾荒者）的职业健康与安全。本研究采用分析性描述方法来实现这一目标。研究区域内的拾荒者在现有的垃圾场、固体废物转运站、垃圾填埋场以及社区街道垃圾桶区域从事非正规工作。在个人访谈期间，对301名拾荒者进行了抽样调查，他们填写了为此目的设计的结构化问卷。此外，还对加沙地带的主要巴勒斯坦官员进行了访谈，以提供有关拾荒者活动的准确数据和全面信息。结果表明，拾荒者的职业健康与安全状况持续恶化，主要原因是他们工作的非正规性质。据报道，拾荒者在当前状况下受苦，大多数人无法获得饮用水、卫生设施以及卫生适宜的睡觉和用餐场所。他们中没有人接受过职业健康与安全培训。该研究建议，地方决策者应在废物管理部门采取短期和长期措施，旨在改善这一弱势群体的健康和安全生活状况。
