Acquah Augustine A, D'Souza Clive, Martin Bernard, Arko-Mensah John, Nti Afua Amoabeng, Kwarteng Lawrencia, Takyi Sylvia, Quakyi Isabella A, Robins Thomas G, Fobil Julius N
Department of Biological Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Center for Ergonomics, Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet. 2019 Nov;63(1):938-942. doi: 10.1177/1071181319631219. Epub 2019 Nov 20.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem with regards to its increasing rate in the global waste stream. Its recycling is known to be associated with adverse health outcomes. The recycling site at Agbogbloshie is a major e-waste recycling hub which presents enormous health threats to the residents in this community as a result of exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals associated with the poor work methods employed. This paper describes the processes involved in e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie and discusses some of the associated health and psychosocial challenges. Direct field observations and in-depth interviews of eight e-waste workers were conducted from November, 2017 to December, 2017. Results from a thematic analysis of obtained data suggest that inappropriate recycling methods, financial constraints, and the high physical demands of e-waste recycling work were associated with adverse musculoskeletal health conditions among the workers. A more systematic ergonomic study is currently being undertaken to quantify the associations between physical work exposures and worker musculoskeletal health among e-waste workers in Agbogbloshie. Further studies are needed that focus on locally adapted ergonomic interventions for effective recycling of e-waste and reducing the health risk to workers.
电子垃圾（电子废弃物）在全球废物流中的增长速度使其成为一个全球性问题。已知其回收利用与不良健康后果相关。阿博布罗西的回收站点是一个主要的电子垃圾回收中心，由于接触与所采用的不良工作方法相关的复杂化学混合物，给该社区居民带来了巨大的健康威胁。本文描述了阿博布罗西电子垃圾回收过程，并讨论了一些相关的健康和社会心理挑战。2017年11月至2017年12月，对八名电子垃圾工人进行了直接实地观察和深入访谈。对所获数据进行主题分析的结果表明，不适当的回收方法、资金限制以及电子垃圾回收工作对体力的高要求与工人的肌肉骨骼健康不良状况相关。目前正在进行一项更系统的人体工程学研究，以量化阿博布罗西电子垃圾工人的体力工作暴露与工人肌肉骨骼健康之间的关联。还需要进一步开展研究，重点关注适用于当地的人体工程学干预措施，以实现电子垃圾的有效回收并降低工人的健康风险。
