Occupational health and safety problems faced by solid waste workers

The rapid increase in the world population, urbanization, change in consumption habits, together with significant increase in the amount of solid waste. This situation has significantly increased the amount of solid waste due to the income and development levels of the countries. The increasing amount of solid waste, diversity and adverse working conditions have begun to create different and important risks in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) on the workers working in the waste sector. The aim of this study is to determine the OHS risks faced by solid waste workers and to offer solutions. For this purpose, national and international publications including studies on OHS risks faced by solid waste workers were screened and a study was conducted as a result of compiling the obtained information and data. In the researches, it has been seen that the solid waste workers are exposed to various OHS risks in the collection, transportation, separation and disposal processes of solid wastes and these risks caused by physical, chemical and microbiological factors cause serious damage to the workers. In the enterprises operating in the solid waste sector, the OHS measures defined in the legislation on workers must be handled with care. A different attitude would mean that existing risks and health problems in the workers will continue to increase.