Factors Associated With Occupational Injuries among Solid Waste Collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly

Abstract

Background: Globally, occupational injuries account for 15% of mortalities associated with occupational accidents. The work of Solid Waste Collectors exposes them to numerous occupational hazards, which results in injuries. Increasing rates of occupational injuries from 43.7% to 63.9% among solid waste collectors in sub Saharan Africa opens room for more research to be done. Objective: The study assessed the magnitude of occupational injuries and associated factors among solid waste collectors of Zoomlion Ghana Limited in the Accra Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out among the Solid waste collectors. Occupational injuries and its associated factors among the solid waste collectors was assessed using questionnaires. Multi stage sampling approach was used to select study participants. Data was collected through the administration of questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between the dependent and independent variables. Results: In this study, 21.8 % (78/358), 95 % CI (0.1749 - 0.2608) among the Solid Waste Collectors reported having at least one work-related injury in the last six months. The factors that were significantly associated with at least one occupational injury among the solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis were Work duty (collection and transportation), the zone of assignment for respondents and lack of PPE use. The result of the study demonstrated that cuts/puncture was the injury that was mostly sustained by the municipal solid waste workers while the leg was the body part that was mostly injured followed by the hands. Working in the collection and transportation category and lack of PPE for use at work were significantly and positively associated with occupational injury among the solid waste collectors. Again, working in the La Dade Kotopon zone had reduced odds of sustaining injuries as compared to those in Ablekuma South zone. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of occupational injuries among municipal solid waste collectors in the Accra Metropolis was lower as compared to similar research conducted in Ethiopia, Egypt and India.