Sweeping practice and knowledge about occupational safety and health hazards of sweepers

Street sweepers play an important role in maintaining the health and hygiene in the cities. This job exposes street sweepers to a variety of risk factors such as dust, volatile organic matter and mechanical stress, which makes them susceptible to certain occupational diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and knowledge on health and safety conditions of sweepers. The study was also conducted to investigate the health problems among street sweepers of shyamoli area in Dhaka city. Quantitative methods were used on this research. Occupational safety and health of sweepers revealed that the potential health effects of waste. As they were not provided any personal protective equipment, cut in hands and legs were very common that caused them long term infection. Most of sweepers were suffering from various infectious diseases although there were no official statistics; proper investigation and research is therefore key demand for sweeper’s occupational health and safety net. The total respondents of research were 105.According to research, among 105 respondents 56% respondents age were20-40 years,65% respondents were male, 69% respondents were Illiterate, 32% respondents income more than five thousand, 86% were muslin and 55% respondents were married. During work 67% respondents faced problem, 96% respondents do not have any idea about hygienic, 79% respondents do not use protective equipment, 51% respondent’s works 10 hours per day in the work place, 53% respondents not injured during work in the past year, 9% respondents injured once to twice, 20% respondent injured three to five, 11% respondents injured six to ten and 7% respondents injured more than ten times. According to results 81% respondents faced health problems like skin disease, 85% told about fever, 64% complains about Hypertension & eye problems, on the other hand 61% respondents told about Low Back Pain & joint pain(where multiple answer is included).