Occupational hazards and health problems among street sweepers in Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The job of street sweepers is a vigorous task which exposes workers to many hazards and health problems. This study assessed the occupational hazards, health problems and   utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) among street sweepers in Uyo, Nigeria.
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among street sweepers. Data collection was carried out using an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The level of significance was set at 0.05.
Result: A total of 150 sweepers participated in the study. The mean age was 37.47±10.58 years, the median was 37 years and 88 (58.7%) were females. The mean period of employment was 2.89±1.20 years. No sweeper received any safety training about the job. Majority (77.1%) swept approximately 238m daily. The commonest hazards reported were dust 141(94.0%), cold 129 (86.0%), mosquitoes 74 (49.3%) and prolonged bending 149 (99.3%). Health problems reported included musculoskeletal diseases 63.3%, respiratory symptoms 47.3%, fever 32.0% and hand/foot injuries 18%. The most commonly utilized PPE was reflectors 98 (65.3%). None used goggles and boots. Musculoskeletal pain occurred with increasing age, distance and duration of sweeping (p<0.001). There was a significant association between lack of use of face mask and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Sweepers in Uyo were exposed to several workplace hazards. The availability and use of PPEs were low. Consequently, several health challenges were faced. Adequate provision of PPEs should be ensured by employers in order to mitigate the effects of hazards on sweepers.