Exploring the Dynamics of Occupational Health Hazards Among Waste Pickers in Dhapa Landfill of Kolkata, India

Waste pickers are marginalized individuals, who face numerous occupational health risks due to the dangerous and unhygienic nature of their work. Landfilling or open dumping provides options for livelihood while also causing health problems due to harmful gases or contact with dirty water at the dumping site. The main objective of this study is to assess the dynamics of occupational health hazards of waste pickers in the Dhapa landfill of Kolkata, India. The study used a cross-sectional survey with a simple random sampling technique and was conducted among 200 waste pickers in Dhapa landfill. Male and female waste pickers aged 18 years and older working in the landfill site were included in this study. The result shows that musculoskeletal problem (58%) were the most common problem reported by the waste pickers, followed by gastric problems (35%), and skin problems (29%). About 66% of waste pickers reported that they had any one of these diseases. The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among waste pickers was 69% for the upper and lower back, 54% for the ankle/feet, 49% for the neck, 41% for elbows, 39% for wrist/hand, and 25% for hip/thigh. Factors such as age, long working hours, smoking, and lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were significantly associated with higher morbidity rates. The logistic regression result shows that age (OR-2.70), smoking habits (OR-8.31), long working time (OR-6.30), and PPE use (OR-0.048) enhance the health risk among the waste pickers. The study concluded that waste picking increased the risk of morbidities. To reduce these health hazards, there is a need for greater awareness, protective equipment, improved healthcare access, and formal recognition of their achievements. Addressing these issues will not only protect the health of waste pickers but also improve their working conditions and overall quality of life.