Assesment of personal protective equipment usage amongst e-waste handlers

Abstract

Bulks of e-waste in the country are processed and handled in the major parts of urban slum area, where untrained laborers effectuate the hazardous process without individual protective gear, which are prejudicious not exclusively to their wellbeing yet in addition to the environment. Employers must provide the laborers with Personal Protective clothing/Equipment and train them for its usage. Proper disposal techniques regarding segregation of sharp edged waste items from squander bulk should be applied. It was found that majority of the respondents showed their concern about the safely keeping of sharp edged wastes items (54.3%) while less than half were ignoring such practice (45.7%). Respondents were using gloves (11.4%); spectacles (14.3%), mask (25.7%), shoes (28.6%), caps (8.6%) and only few of them were using all of the above (11.4%). Injuries faced by majority of respondents were skin irritation (14.3%), cuts and wounds (31.4%), infection (20%), accidents (2.9%), and fortunately some of them were facing no injuries while e-waste disposal (31.4%). The investment and right utilization of PPE can aid in evading and reducing working environment mishaps and disorder.