Occupational health hazards, health conditions and safety measures among sanitation workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Abstract
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of occupational injuries and diseases among sanitation workers in Pakistan, and to evaluate their attitudes toward occupational health hazards and practices regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2021 among 502 permanently employed sanitation workers from five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Data were collected using a self-constructed, piloted questionnaire covering sociodemographics, occupational health problems, attitudes, and PPE use. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with Chi-square tests applied for associations.
Results: The mean age of participants was 35.7±7.9 years; most were male (97%), married (88.6%), and had education below secondary school. Reported communicable diseases included dengue (50%), typhoid (14.4%), and hepatitis C (5.4%). Hospital admissions were primarily due to eye problems (17.5%), accidental injuries/falls (14.0%), and skin diseases (11.3%), with burns, allergies, and sharps injuries also noted. Only 23.1% of sanitation workers reported consistent use of PPE, and 14.7% had witnessed a co-worker’s death during duty. The majority (77%) bore healthcare expenses out-of-pocket. Significant associations were observed between work experience and frequency of occupational diseases/injuries (p=0.005).
Conclusion: Sanitation workers in KP are exposed to multiple occupational health hazards, compounded by low literacy, poor awareness, and inadequate use of PPE. Lack of structured health coverage and financial protection further exacerbate their vulnerability. Implementation of occupational safety policies, provision of PPE, and comprehensive health and safety training are urgently needed to safeguard this marginalized workforce.
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