Evaluation of the Level of Safety Consciousness in Municipal Waste Management in Anambra State, Nigeria

In Nigeria, waste contractors rely heavily on workers hired on a daily or short-term basis with little or no safety training. They indulge in unsafe practices and are exposed to so many unsafe conditions. This study seeks to appraise the extent to which waste collectors use personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as the factors influencing the non-usage. It also assesses their level of awareness of the health implications. A descriptive survey using a sample of 129 waste collectors distributed across three main urban cities of the State was carried out. The study revealed that most of waste collectors do not use PPE even though they are aware of the some of the health implications. The study further revealed that greater proportion of the total respondents had sustained injury and none of them were given a first aid treatment by the employer. Health implications of these practices were outlined and recommendations offered.