Ngwira Mercy, Chitete Moses Mn, Sibande Mary, Ngwira Yoram, Damazio Chitsanzo
Department of Public Health, University of Livingstonia, Mzuzu, Malawi.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Centre for Agricultural Research and Development, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Environ Health Insights. 2024 Nov 29;18:11786302241303688. doi: 10.1177/11786302241303688. eCollection 2024.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate Solid Waste Collectors' (SWCs) knowledge of occupational hazards, their views on personal protective equipment (PPE), strategies for PPE use, and challenges in managing occupational risks. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of protective measures in addressing occupational hazards, but there is a need for further research to assess the knowledge levels of waste collectors regarding these hazards and PPE practices. This study used a qualitative research technique, particularly, a phenomenological research design to capture the living experiences from SWCs. Focused group discussions and in-depth interviews were employed to gather data. Subgroups of topics were created by coding the data using a predefined codebook as part of the content analysis process. SWCs demonstrated that they were aware of the risks they face in their work environments. The risks include which can range from long-term health issues brought by repetitive exposure to harmful substances and sharp objects. The lack of PPE accessibility and availability has become a significant issue, exposing waste collectors to various diseases and accidents, forcing them to work without necessary safeguards. Efforts to increase PPEs through public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be promoted. The city council should provide on-the-job training on health risks, occupational hazards related to waste collection, and PPE usage regularly; and establish efficient channels for SWCs to report problems and ensure that their grievances are properly addressed.
本研究的目的是评估固体废物收集者（SWC）对职业危害的认识、他们对个人防护装备（PPE）的看法、PPE的使用策略以及职业风险管理中的挑战。以往的研究强调了防护措施在应对职业危害方面的重要性，但需要进一步研究以评估废物收集者对这些危害和PPE实践的知识水平。本研究采用了定性研究技术，特别是现象学研究设计，以捕捉SWC的生活经历。采用焦点小组讨论和深度访谈来收集数据。在内容分析过程中，使用预定义的编码手册对数据进行编码，从而创建主题子组。SWC表明他们意识到自己在工作环境中面临的风险。这些风险包括长期健康问题，这些问题可能源于反复接触有害物质和尖锐物体。缺乏PPE的可及性和可用性已成为一个重大问题，使废物收集者面临各种疾病和事故，迫使他们在没有必要保障措施的情况下工作。应推动通过公私伙伴关系（PPP）增加PPE的供应。市议会应定期提供关于健康风险、与废物收集相关的职业危害以及PPE使用的在职培训；并为SWC建立有效的问题报告渠道，确保他们的申诉得到妥善处理。
