Study of Health and Safety status among Qom Municipal Waste Management Employees (Official and Unauthorized)

Abstract

Introduction: Waste management workers have an important role in maintaining the health and hygiene of cities. These workers are exposed to various risk factors such as dust, toxins, volatile organic substances, stress, etc., which make them susceptible to some occupational diseases and injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the health and safety status of employees (official and unauthorized) in the waste management department of Qom municipality. Methodology: This study was conducted in the second half of 2019 in order to investigate the health and safety status of employees (official and unauthorized) in the waste management department of Qom municipality in order to provide solutions to improve the current situation. It was done in the city of Qom. .128 official employees in various departments of waste management in the eight municipalities of Qom and also 20 unauthorized employees (garbage pickers) were selected as the sample size and by making the necessary arrangements and using interviews and completing the checklist, The state of health and safety and their working environment were evaluated. Sampling was done randomly and considering that the highest population density was in areas 2 and 3 of Qom municipality (about 34% of the population), 1/3 of the samples were from these two areas and the remaining 2/3 of the samples were from the other six areas. (Regions 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) of the municipality were selected. Results: The summary of the data collection method showed that in the component of access and use of personal protective equipment, the official workers working in the waste management department of Qom municipality do not have favorable conditions. In such a way that in terms of lack of access and use of personal protective equipment by official employees, such as suitable work shoes, suitable work gloves, suitable protective headphones, suitable work hats, suitable protective masks and suitable safety glasses, the average score is 76/65, respectively. 56, 2/99, 79, 82 and more than 99, which indicates an unfavorable situation in official employees. The conditions of unauthorized employees are far more unfavorable compared to official employees, in such a way that unauthorized workers do not have access to and use of personal protective equipment such as appropriate work clothes, appropriate work shoes, appropriate work gloves, appropriate protective headphones, and work hats. suitable, suitable protective mask and suitable safety glasses, the average score was 77.6, 90.33, 85.06, 92.11, 84.21, 86.82 and 100, respectively. Regarding the component of performing unsafe actions during waste collection and transportation operations, the average score of performing unsafe actions in each group was unfavorable. This amount was equal to 52.43 in official workers and 80 in unauthorized workers. In relation to the indicators related to the health status of employees, the status of official employees has been relatively favorable. In such a way that the average score of conducting medical examinations and vaccinations and the average score of holding job training courses and employee participation in these courses for them were 87 and 75, respectively. This amount for unauthorized workers is very unfavorable and equal to 27 and 18. In terms of controlling psychological factors and applying measures to reduce work pressure, the status of official workers is relatively favorable (average score 80), but the status of unauthorized workers is far from the optimal level (average score 19.44). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that lack of access to or use of personal protective equipment as well as performing unsafe acts during work among official employees is more evident than other issues and requires basic measures in this field. Among unauthorized workers, in addition to these cases, lack of medical examinations, lack of proper job training, and serious psychological problems are observed. It is recommended that in addition to the provision of personal protective equipment and supplies, with proper training and information and increased supervision, the necessary motivation to use these equipment should be created in the workers and the mental health of the workers should be continuously monitored. Also, necessary measures should be taken to prevent and reduce the occurrence of psychological stress for them.