Risk Assessment on Waste Management Officials in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State

The study was conducted on risk assessment of waste management officials/workers in Uyo Metropolis of Akwa Ibom State. It aimed at identifying the occupational hazards affecting waste management officials in the study area, assessing the health effect of the hazards on waste management officials in the study area, assessing the safety packages and medical conditions available for waste management officials in the study area as well as identifying constraints to effective solid waste management in the study area. Respondents were drawn from waste collection points and dumpsites in Uyo Metropolis. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) waste management officials were selected for the study using a stratified random sampling technique. They were given well-structured questionnaires and out of 120 questionnaires issued, 118 questionnaires were retrieved from waste management officials in usable forms. The questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that occupational hazards affecting waste management officials in the study area include risk of musculoskeletal disorders due to lifting and carrying of heavy loads and pushing pushcart, contaminated materials, and working in contaminated environment, contact with hazardous substances in the course of working with mixed waste, mechanical hazards due to unintentional contact with sharp items and working near moving parts of machinery/vehicles and psychological burden in working with waste and disrespect by members of the society. Common health risks associated with waste management in the study area include cholera, diarrhea, nasal irritation, eye irritation, high temperatures in working environments causing dizziness, insect bites and musculoskeletal injuries. Mechanical Hazards include cuts on hand, finger, thumb, or foot from broken glass or sharp objects and eye injury. Severe health complaints among the waste management officials in the study area include chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic shoulder pain, eye injury, excessive heat and skin diseases. These complaints are indications that waste management officials are at risk in the study area. Only protective gears for waste handlers, protective clothing and safety shoes were confirmed by the majority of the respondents as the only available safety equipment confirming that these officials are exposed to occupational risks and hazards. From the study, high ranking constraints identified by the respondents include insufficient funding, lack of sufficient awareness of officials on the danger of some waste items, policies and education while low ranking constraints include inadequate capacity of waste managers and regulators and poor attitude of waste management officials. It is therefore recommended that hazardous waste items should be eliminated at source through proper waste sorting and segregation as well as provision of safer safety equipment and packages.