• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.172-184
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics of occupational accidents by work type among municipal sanitation workers. Methods: The original data of occupational accidents in 2009 by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency were analyzed by frequency and percentage using the SAS Version 9.1. Results: The types of occupational accident were as follows: slips and trips, falls, musculoskeletal disorders, traffic accident, collision, amputation, cut & puncture, crush injuries, strenuous movement and drop/fly. Slips and trips occurred most frequently in domestic waste collection and street sweeping. The traffic accident showed the highest incidence in food waste collection. Falls occurred most frequently in recycling waste collection. Musculoskeletal disorders showed the highest incidence in large waste collection. Conclusion: Depending on the work type, types of occupational accident were different. The results of this study can provide the information for the development of the occupational accident prevention programs of municipal sanitation workers.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to assess respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure levels in workers who collect and dispose used coal briquette ash (CBA) in sanitation companies that are subcontracted by one medium-sized local government on the collection of municipal household waste (MHW), and to analyze the quartz content in CBA. When the CBA powder that undergone specialized pretreatment in several steps were subjected to mineral identification and quantitative analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was found that quartz represented 18%, and in addition, mullite, and plagioclase were included. For two CBA collectors, samples were collected by the personal sampling evaluation method. After respirable dust was collected in accordance with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 7500 method, the concentration of quartz was analyzed using XRD. Meanwhile, a portable real-time dust monitor (Sidepak AM520, TSI Inc., USA) was also used to observe the dust exposure level for each time zone and job task. The RCS exposure level of one worker was as high as 0.024 mg/㎥, which was the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) level. The other worker also exhibited a concentration of 0.013 mg/㎥, which was more than half of TLV. The Sidepak results revealed that the work of collecting CBA and loading it onto a vehicle was hardly exposed to the dust of a significant level. It was found, however, that the work of transferring the collected CBA to a container through a conveyor belt was exposed to a very high average respirable dust concentration of 2.238 mg/㎥. The results of this study confirmed that quartz, which is crystalline silica and a carcinogen, is contained in CBA, one of municipal household waste (MHW), in high concentration. It was also confirmed that workers are exposed to high RCS concentrations while transferring collected CBA into a container. Although each local government in South Korea handles CBA in different ways, it is imperative to investigate the CBA exposure level of sanitation workers and improve their working conditions.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.147-152
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to evaluate the musculo-skeletal symptomatic features of municipal sanitation workers and to compare differences of the musculo-skeletal symptoms by work types. We conducted descriptive cross-sectional survey concerning the musculo-skeletal symptomatic features of 315 street cleaners in Seoul and GyeongGi Province, Korea, during 2 weeks of September 2006. Questionnaires were consisted of general characteristics, occupational characteristics and musculo-skeletal symptoms. And we observed their works and evaluated their movement and posture by REBA. For work types, tools and subjective physical work loading, there were statistical difference whether or not NIOSH symptom positive on upper limb. Musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb were claimed from 43.2% of street cleaners, more than in 32.4% of cleaners. Musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb were reported higher in the group who felt their subjective physical work loading severe than in the otherwise group. The REBA results were over 'high risk stage' in street cleaners. Street cleaners had more repetitive motions than solid waste collectors on upper limbs. Works according to the criteria of musculoskeletal burdened work by the Ministry of Labor results were over 'high risk stage' of No. 2 and No. 4 in street cleaners. We found that street cleaners complained musculo-skeletal symptoms on upper limb more than solid waste collectors. This study suggests that it is necessary for street cleaners to carry out the prevention program of musculo-skeletal diseases. For street cleaner, the measure plans such as job rotation, automatic street sweepers, reducing work hours are helpful in preventing musculoskeletal symptoms on the upper limb.