Evaluation Of Ergonomic Risk Factors and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated with Informal Electronic Waste Recycling at Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana
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Date
2020-07
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University of Ghana
Abstract
Generation of electronic waste (e-waste) is a worldwide problem due to an ever-increasing global
demand for new electronic appliances, and high turnover in replacing old and obsolete electrical
and electronic appliances. Agbogbloshie, an informal e-waste processing site in Accra, Ghana is
one of the largest of its kind in the world. The management and recycling of e-waste in an
environmentally and occupationally safe and sustainable manner is a major challenge resulting in
workers developing multiple health conditions. In addition, e-waste workers are also exposed to
several physical risks due to the rudimentary methods of recycling which are known pathways to
developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Notwithstanding, studies on adverse health effects
of e-waste recycling have focused primarily on chemical exposures with little attention to physical
exposures. Physical ergonomic exposures associated with informal e-waste recycling by lowwage,
low-skilled workers are poorly understood. Further, current ergonomic assessment tools are
intended for well-structured work environments. Ergonomic assessment tools to determine the
physical exposures in unstructured and unregulated work settings such as e-waste recycling are
lacking.
The aim of this thesis, therefore, was to quantify the ergonomic risk factors and work-related
MSDs associated with informal e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie. Clearly defined specific
objectives led to studies that allowed for the development of an observation-based exposure
assessment tool adapted to unregulated and unstructured work in an informal sector.
The studies were conducted at the e-waste site in Agbogbloshie, Accra Ghana. A reference
population was recruited from Madina Zongo in Accra for comparison of work-related
musculoskeletal disorders with e-waste workers. Participants in this thesis were conveniently sampled due to the informal and unstructured nature of the study sites. Direct field observations
and in-depth interviews of eight e-waste workers were first conducted to better understand the
processes and challenges associated with e-waste recycling. The obtained data were manually
transcribed and coded into themes for analysis. Subsequently, a cross-sectional survey of 163 male
e-waste workers complemented with direct field observations and pedometers was used to quantify
workers’ occupational physical activities over a work week. The Occupational Physical Activity
Questionnaire was modified by the researcher for this purpose. The Cornell Musculoskeletal
Discomfort Questionnaire was used to estimate the self-reported prevalence of MSDs in 11
specific body regions of 176 e-waste workers and 41 non-e-waste workers from the reference
population. To quantify exposure to physical risk factors, an observation-based tool that satisfies
ease-of-use criteria and adapted for unstructured work in developing countries was designed. This
new tool was used in real-time to quantify intensity and duration of e-waste workers’ exposure to
ergonomic risk factors. The job categories, sample size, and the respective number of observations
were determined based on preliminary observations. Thus, 6 dismantlers, 6 burners, and
11collectors were observed for 8, 6, and 3 days, respectively.
Qualitative and observational data were analysed using thematic analysis while quantitative data
were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-squared tests for categorical
variables and ANOVA for continuous variables were used to test for statistical differences among
e-waste worker categories, namely, collectors, dismantlers and burners. Multiple regression was
used to examine relationships between physical exposure variables and MSDs.
Results addressing the specific objectives of this thesis were as follows: Thematic analysis showed
that, e-waste recycling at Agbogbloshie, from collection and transport to sorting to dismantling to open air burning are done manually using crude methods that require the use of rudimentary tools
and physical strength. Assessment of occupational physical activity revealed that, all three
categories of e-waste workers performed frequent strenuous occupational activities which differed
significantly by primary job category. In addition, a high prevalence of MSDs was reported among
e-waste workers (89.2%) compared to the reference population (70.7), which was claimed to
interfered with their ability to work. Lower back pain was predominant regardless of job category.
The newly developed ergonomic assessment tool showed good inter-observer agreement (i.e., 89%
to 100%) for most risk factors assessed. Results from using this tool indicated that, durations of
severe trunk flexion were significantly higher for dismantlers and burners (98.3 ± 24.6 and 188.7
± 25.4 minutes respectively) compared to collectors; while high forces were exerted over longer
periods by collectors and dismantlers (228.3 ± 20.1 and 177.3 ± 20.4 minutes respectively). Highly
repetitive movements (> 20 / min) were significantly higher for dismantlers and burners (186.9 ±
20.9 and 178.8 ± 22.5 minutes respectively) than collectors. Although contact stress was present
in all jobs, vibration was predominant among dismantlers.
In conclusion, e-waste workers at Agbogbloshie are exposed to prolonged durations and high
intensities of multiple ergonomic risk factors that predisposes workers to MSDs. The thesis
identifies the ergonomics risk factors that need to be prioritised in the development of locally
adapted ergonomic interventions for the efficient recycling of e-waste and the reduction of health
and safety risks posed by unregulated and unstructured work in developing countries. The
observational tool developed demonstrates promise in addressing the need for ergonomic tools
tailored to informal and unregulated manual work settings, but needs refining to improve the
measurement effort and precision in the assessment of risk factors and MSDs.
Description
PhD. Public Health
Keywords
Ghana, Musculoskeletal disorders, Occupational physical activity, Electronic waste