Health hazards implication for household solid waste collectors of north city corporation in Dhaka: a post-COVID study

Abstract

Solid waste management has been one of the challenging tasks for the waste collectors at Dhaka North City corporations, especially during the post-COVID-19 period, since this task exposes several acute and chronic illnesses. The perilous implications of waste collection on the health condition of the waste collectors at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have often been ignored, and they have to work without adequate protective measures. Though different research has already been done regarding the occupational health hazards of waste collectors, the novelty of this study is that it considers the post-COVID period and focuses on the solid waste picker of DNCC. This study aimed to evaluate the current health hazards faced by DNCC household waste collectors and suggest remedial actions. A questionnaire-based survey (n = 415) assessed work environment, socio-economic status, and post-COVID-19 health hazard awareness through convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were adopted to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics portray that 81.8% of waste pickers are not satisfied with their work environment. Additionally, 66% of solid waste collectors face health issues, and 58% of waste collectors are unaware of the risk of COVID-19. Pearson’s chi-square tests reveal that the health hazards of waste pickers are significantly associated with job type, working hours, Awareness of solid waste effect on health and severe suffering history. Additionally, the binary logistic regression model exposed job type, Awareness of solid waste effect on health, frequently suffered diseases, and severe suffering history has significant (p-value < 0.05) impact on the health hazard of a waste picker of DNCC. Regarding the policy implication, Dhaka North City Corporation must take immediate action that will significantly reduce the hazardous impacts of solid waste collection on the health of the waste collectors by supplying them with adequate protective measures.