Occupational Hazards among the Solid Waste Workers in Eldoret Central Business District, Kenya

Kipchumba Peninah – Department of Public Health, School of Health Science, Kisii University, Kenya
Festus Beru Kelonye – Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science Kibabii University, Kenya
Glenn Onsomu Araka – Department of Public Health, School of Health Science, Kisii University, Kenya
Email: peninahkipchumba@gmail.com

Abstract: Waste management involves use of personnel who actively participate in sweeping, collection and disposal of wastes and thus are exposed to health hazards. This investigated the health hazards faced by solid waste collectors in Eldoret Central Business District. Cross-sectional descriptive research design was used and target population was 114 solid waste collectors and three (3) public Health officers. A sample size 89 waste handlers and 3 supervisors was used and were selected through simple random and purposive sampling. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Validity was attained through expert judgement while reliability was attained through piloting and use of Cronbach Alpha coefficient. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies, mean and standard deviation and presented in tables and figures. Qualitative data were thematically classified and arranged before they were reported in narrations and quotations. The study found out that 97.6% of the waste handlers had been affected by wastes collected. In addition, 97.6%, had been pricked by sharped objects, 98.8% had cuts from sharp objects, 84.5% had been pierced by sharp objects, 83.1% had suffered dermal injuries and 74.7% had suffered strain. The paper concluded that the major hazards that were associated with solid waste handling included; cuts from metals and broken bottles, piercing, strain, corrosions and musculoskeletal injuries. It was recommended that there is need for segregation of wastes at the source to reduce mixing of solid wastes which increases the likelihood of an occurrence of hazards among waste handlers.