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Kageyama I, Hashiguchi N, Cao J, Niwa M, Lim Y, Tsutsumi M, Yu J, Sengoku S, Okamoto S, Hashimoto S, Kodama K. Determination of Waste Management Workers' Physical and Psychological Load: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Biometric Data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192315964. [PMID: 36498046 PMCID: PMC9739088 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Waste management workers experience high stress and physical strain in their work environment, but very little empirical evidence supports effective health management practices for waste management workers. Hence, this study investigated the effects of worker characteristics and biometric indices on workers' physical and psychological loads during waste-handling operations. A biometric measurement system was installed in an industrial waste management facility in Japan to understand the actual working conditions of 29 workers in the facility. It comprised sensing wear for data collection and biometric sensors to measure heart rate (HR) and physical activity (PA) based on electrocardiogram signals. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate significant relationships between the parameters. Although stress level is indicated by the ratio of low frequency (LF) to high frequency (HF) or high LF power in HR, the results showed that compared with workers who did not handle waste, those who did had lower PA and body surface temperature, higher stress, and lower HR variability parameters associated with higher psychological load. There were no significant differences in HR, heart rate interval (RRI), and workload. The psychological load of workers dealing directly with waste was high, regardless of their PA, whereas others had a low psychological load even with high PA. These findings suggest the need to promote sustainable work relationships and a quantitative understanding of harsh working conditions to improve work quality and reduce health hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuki Kageyama
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
- Merge System Co., Fukuoka 810-0041, Japan
| | - Nobuki Hashiguchi
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
| | - Jianfei Cao
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
| | - Makoto Niwa
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
| | - Yeongjoo Lim
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
| | | | - Jiakan Yu
- School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 108-0023, Japan
| | - Shintaro Sengoku
- School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 108-0023, Japan
| | - Soichiro Okamoto
- College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Seiji Hashimoto
- College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Kota Kodama
- Graduate School of Technology Management, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150 Iwakuracho, Osaka 567-8570, Japan
- Center for Research and Education on Drug Discovery, The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
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Le AB, Shkembi A, Sturgis AC, Tadee A, Gibbs SG, Neitzel RL. Effort-Reward Imbalance among a Sample of Formal US Solid Waste Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116791. [PMID: 35682374 PMCID: PMC9179994 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Solid waste workers are exposed to a plethora of occupational hazards and may also experience work-related stress. Our study had three specific hypotheses: (1) waste workers experience effort−reward imbalance (ERI) with high self-reported effort but low reward, (2) unionized workers experience greater ERI, and (3) workers with higher income have lower ERI. Methods: Waste workers from three solid waste sites in Michigan participated in this cross-sectional study. We characterized perceived work stress using the short-version ERI questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and linear tests for trend were assessed for each scale. Linear regression models were constructed to examine the relationship between structural factors of work stress and ERI. Gradient-boosted regression trees evaluated which factors of effort or reward best characterize workers’ stress. Results: Among 68 participants, 37% of workers reported high effort and low reward from work (ERI > 1). Constant pressure due to heavy workload was most indicative of ERI among the solid waste workers. Union workers experienced 79% times higher ERI than non-unionized workers, while no significant differences were observed by income, after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Organizational-level interventions, such as changes related to workload, consideration of fair compensation, and increased support from supervisors, can decrease work stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora B. Le
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.S.); (A.C.S.); (A.T.); (R.L.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-734-615-7105
| | - Abas Shkembi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.S.); (A.C.S.); (A.T.); (R.L.N.)
| | - Anna C. Sturgis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.S.); (A.C.S.); (A.T.); (R.L.N.)
| | - Anupon Tadee
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.S.); (A.C.S.); (A.T.); (R.L.N.)
| | - Shawn G. Gibbs
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Richard L. Neitzel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (A.S.); (A.C.S.); (A.T.); (R.L.N.)
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Lissah SY, Ayanore MA, Krugu JK, Aberese-Ako M, Ruiter RAC. "Our Work, Our Health, No One's Concern": Domestic Waste Collectors' Perceptions of Occupational Safety and Self-Reported Health Issues in an Urban Town in Ghana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116539. [PMID: 35682123 PMCID: PMC9180064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Domestic waste collectors face major public health hazards that result in injuries and morbidity globally. This study explored domestic waste collectors’ perceptions of occupational safety and self-reported health issues in a city in Ghana using a phenomenological qualitative research design. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were held with 64 domestic waste collectors from two waste companies. The transcribed data were imported into NVivo 11.0 software (QSR International, Burlington, MA, USA) for coding, and a content analysis was applied to analyze all the transcribed data using the processes of induction and deduction. The consensual views from the domestic waste collectors showed the waste-company employers’ non-interest in the domestic waste collectors’ occupational safety and health. Poor communication from employers to domestic waste collectors and huge workloads were identified as the causes of the poor implementation of occupational safety practices, which exposed the domestic waste collectors to occupational health hazards. The domestic waste collectors reported that they suffered from occupational injuries, psychosocial disorders, work-related stress, and frequent burnout. The domestic waste collectors adopted coping strategies, such as self-medication, to deal with these occupational hazards, since most of them were not covered by guaranteed health insurance. In addition, the study revealed the non-compliance and non-enforcement of occupational health and safety policies by the employers to guide health and safety training and practices among the domestic waste collectors. In conclusion, the findings suggest that DWCs are exposed to occupational safety and health hazards in their work. Waste-company employers should extend welfare benefits to DWCs, such as health insurance and social security benefits, to ensure their security, health, and well-being. The findings could inform the design of intervention programs and policies to guide training and practices for domestic waste collectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Yaw Lissah
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands;
- Department of Agro-Enterprise Development, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Ho Technical University, P.O. Box HP 217 Ho, Volta Region, Ghana
- Correspondence:
| | - Martin Amogre Ayanore
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31 Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;
- Centre for Health Policy Advocacy Innovation & Research in Africa (CHPAIR-Africa), 441/4F Nyaniba Estates, Osu, Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
| | - John K. Krugu
- KIT Royal Tropical Institute, P.O. Box 95001, 1090 HA Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Matilda Aberese-Ako
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31 Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;
| | - Robert A. C. Ruiter
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands;
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Perceived Stress at Work and Associated Factors among E-Waste Workers in French-Speaking West Africa. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19020851. [PMID: 35055673 PMCID: PMC8775860 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Perceived stress at work is an important risk factor that affects the mental and physical health of workers. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with perceived stress in the informal electronic and electrical equipment waste processing sector in French-speaking West Africa. From 14 to 21 November 2019, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among e-waste workers in five countries in the French-speaking West African region, and participants were selected by stratified random sampling. Participants were interviewed on socio-demographic variables and characteristics related to e-waste management activities using a questionnaire incorporating Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (10-item version). Factors associated with perceived stress were determined by multivariate logistic regression. A total of 740 e-waste workers were interviewed. The mean age of the workers was 34.59 ± 11.65 years, with extremes of 14 and 74 years. Most of the interviewees were repairers (43.11%). The prevalence of perceived stress among the e-waste workers was 76.76%. Insufficient income, number of working days per week, perceived violence at work, and the interference of work with family responsibilities or leisure were the risk factors that were the most associated with perceived stress. The high prevalence of perceived stress and its associated factors call for consideration and improvement of the working conditions of e-waste workers.
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