Occupational Risk Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Collectors in a City Subdivision in the Philippines

According to Philippine statistics report in 2013, majority of the Philippines’ solid wastes come from residential areas. Solid waste collection workers are regularly exposed to risks of occupational injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). With the aim of assessing the occupational risks of municipal solid waste collectors, this study was conducted in a city subdivision in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Workers were asked to answer the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire and an occupational risk survey. Images of worker postures taken during their work were analyzed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment. Risk factors for possible occupational injuries were determined. Results showed that gathering trash, giving trash to segregators, and garbage segregating exposed the workers to poor postures with high to very high risk. Open wounds were most likely to occur. Recommendations for both subdivisions and contractors were provided in order to mitigate the risks identified.