Awareness of Occupational Health Hazards among Street Sweepers and Garbage Collectors at Beni-Suef City, Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study

Rahma, Mervat; Ewis, Ashraf; Hifnawy, Tamer

doi:10.21608/jhiph.2009.20859

Awareness of Occupational Health Hazards among Street Sweepers and Garbage Collectors at Beni-Suef City, Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Industrial Health, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

² Department of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

³ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt

10.21608/jhiph.2009.20859

Abstract

Background: Street sweepers and garbage collectors play an important role in maintaining health and hygiene in the communities. However, they usually work at risky environments that expose them to various morbid conditions. Objective: In this study, we aimed at evaluating awareness and attitudes of Egyptian street sweepers and garbage collectors regarding the occupational risks they are exposed to and its preventive measures. Methods: In a descriptive study, 70 randomly-selected street sweepers and garbage collectors from Beni-Suef city, Egypt were randomly selected and approached through direct interviews with a semi-tailored questionnaire. Results: The results indicated that street sweepers and garbage collectors were aware of occupational health hazards and diseases, to which they are exposed and may encounter at work. Nevertheless, during the past 12 months, 41.4% of them experienced a job-related health problem. They sweep streets and collect garbage directly with unprotected hands and without using any personal protective equipment. Additionally, their attitudes towards taking preventive measures while working did not match their knowledge about their job-related health hazards. Conclusion: Street sweepers and garbage collectors should be treated as a vulnerable group that requires pre-placement and in-service orientations, health education, vaccinations, medical check-ups, with close monitoring of their attitudes and practice.

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