Health and informal work conditions among recyclers in the rural area of Medellin, Colombia, 2008

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar las condiciones de trabajo, salud y riesgos ocupacionales de recuperadores ambientales del área rural de Medellín. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con cien recuperadores ambientales informales en cinco corregimientos de Medellín en 2008. La fuente de información fue primaria: una encuesta estructurada sobre condiciones de trabajo, salud, riesgos ocupacionales y morbilidad sentida, que permitió caracterizar los riesgos de la población mediante estadística descriptiva y un acercamiento a las relaciones y asociaciones de los riesgos con la morbilidad en la población. RESULTADOS: Ciento cuatro personas ejercían el reciclaje, y 100 de estos se incluyeron en el estudio: 34 personas agremiadas en organizaciones de base comunitaria y 66 personas que ejercían la labor independientemente. La afiliación a seguridad social, suplencia de necesidades básicas, satisfacción en la labor, recibir capacitaciones y suministro periódico de elementos para su trabajo presentaron diferencias según grupo (p < 0,05). Los riesgos biológicos, relacionados con postura corporal inadecuada, riesgos físicos y químicos, tuvieran frecuencia particular de exposición según grupo. El conocimiento y uso de las medidas de protección para los riesgos de la labor difirieron estadísticamente entre los grupos (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Los recuperadores son potencial apoyo para la gestión integral de residuos en áreas rurales de Medellín, aunque su carácter informal los expone a condiciones de trabajo que repercuten directamente en su salud y la de sus familias. El reconocimiento social del reciclaje va de la mano con la mejora de las condiciones laborales de las personas dedicadas a esta actividad. Los recuperadores ambientales, aun agremiados, tienen condiciones laborales y de salud precarias. La trasformación de estas condiciones debería ser una de las prioridades del Estado.

Trabajadores Rurales; Segregadores de Residuos Sólidos; Reciclaje; Riesgos Laborales; Condiciones de Trabajo; Salud Laboral; Estudios Transversales

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Health and informal work conditions among recyclers in the rural area of Medellin, Colombia, 2008

Condições de saúde e trabalho informal em recuperadores ambientais da área rural de Medellin, Colômbia, 2008

Viviana Lenis Ballesteros^I; Yolanda Lucía López Arango^II; Yicenia Milena Cuadros Urrego

^IPrograma de Maestría en Epidemiologia. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Colombia

^IIPrograma de Maestría en Salud Pública. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Colombia

Correspondence

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the work, health and occupational risk conditions of recyclers from the rural area.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study, with the participation of one hundred informal recyclers in five corregimientos (small administrative units) of Medellin in 2008. The source of information was primary: a structured survey on work, health and occupational risk conditions and also on perceived morbidity, which enabled to characterize the population's risks through descriptive statistics and approach the relationships and associations of the risks with the morbidity in the population.

RESULTS: One hundred and four people were engaged in recycling, and 100 of them were included in the study: 34 people belonged to community-based organizations and 66 people worked independently. Social security affiliation, fulfillment of basic needs, work satisfaction, access to training activities and periodic provision of work supplies presented differences according to group (p < 0.05). The biological risks, associated with inadequate body postures, and physical and chemical risks had a particular frequency of exposure according to group. The knowledge and use of safety measures for occupational risks differed statistically among the analyzed groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Recyclers are a potential support to integral waste management in rural areas of Medellin, although the informal nature of their work exposes them to working conditions that directly affect their health and the health of their families. The social recognition of recycling goes hand in hand with the improvement in the working conditions of the people engaged in this activity. The environmental recycling workers, even if belonging to a union, have precarious work and health conditions. The transformation of these conditions should be one of the State's priorities.

Descriptors: Rural Workers. Solid Waste Segregators. Recycling. Occupational Risks. Working Conditions. Occupational Health. Cross-Sectional Studies

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar as condições de trabalho, saúde e riscos ocupacionais de recicladores da área rural.

MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, com participação de 100 recicladores informais em cinco vilarejos de Medellin, em 2008. Foi usada uma fonte de informação primária: questionários estruturados avaliando as condições de trabalho, saúde, eventos ocupacionais e morbidade para caracterizar os riscos da população por meio de estatística descritiva e estabelecer associações com a morbidade.

RESULTADOS: A reciclagem era praticada por 104 pessoas, das quais 100 foram incluídas no estudo: 34 estavam agremiadas em organizações de origem comunitária e 66 exerciam o trabalho de forma independente. Afiliação à segurança social, abastecimento de necessidades básicas, satisfação no serviço, receber capacitações e fornecimento periódico de elementos para o trabalho apresentaram diferenças de acordo com o grupo (p < 0,05). Os riscos biológicos, relacionados com postura corporal inadequada, e os riscos físicos e químicos expressaram frequência de exposição de acordo com o grupo. O conhecimento e o uso das medidas de proteção para os riscos laborais foram diferentes entre os grupos (p < 0,05).

CONCLUSIONES: Os recicladores são potencial apoio para a gestão integral de resíduos em áreas rurais de Medellin, embora seu caráter informal os exponha a condições de trabalho que afetam diretamente sua saúde e a de seus próximos. O reconhecimento social da reciclagem deve ser acompanhado do aprimoramento das condições de trabalho das pessoas envolvidas nessa atividade. Da mesma forma, os recicladores agremiados apresentam condições de trabalho e de saúde precárias. A transformação dessas condições deveria ser uma das prioridades do Estado.

Descriptores: Trabalhadores Rurais. Catadores. Reciclagem. Riscos Ocupacionais. Condições de Trabalho. Saúde do Trabalhador. Estudos Transversais.

INTRODUCTION

The growing global urbanization, derived from the sharp increase in population and industrialization, involves the generation of an increasing amount of solid waste. Its management is an interesting topic, given its environmental and health implications.¹¹ The problem of garbage disposal is not limited to large cities; it affects small towns as well.

Recycling has gained relevance in the last decades due to the fact that it has become a low-cost strategy to reduce wastes. It is a "niche market" whose advantages can be observed in the economy of industries, with the consequent reduction in the cost of raw materials, and that has become an income option for impoverished communities with few stable job opportunities available.⁸

The daily generation of waste is estimated to be 28,800 tons in Colombia, of which approximately 45% had the potential to be reused, but only 7% of this amount is recovered. This 7% is the source of income for an important population. Recycling organizations reported that 20,000 families engaged in recycling in 2006.

This leads these people to live in precarious conditions and makes the society not to see them as equal.²

The inherent risks related to the recycling activity, which are of biological, physical, chemical, ergonomic, public and psychosocial nature, are intensified by the lack of effective mechanisms to ensure the access of this population to health and social security services.⁸

The characteristics of the recycling work, such as low income, few opportunities to progress by virtue of the low status of the job due to the fact that it requires little knowledge and education, lack of stability, low social security protection, precarious work conditions, and almost no protection against occupational risks, among other peculiarities, lead this activity to be included in the informal sector of the national economy.²

In recent years, different efforts have been made to support the creation of cooperatives or social unions aiming to promote the organization of these groups for business training, strengthening of their work, and improvement of their life conditions.

This study aimed to characterize work, health and occupational risk conditions of recyclers from the rural area of Medellin, Colombia.

METHODS

An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in five corregimientos (localities) in the rural area of Medellin: Santa Elena, San Antonio de Prado, San Sebastián de Palmitas, AltaVista, and San Cristóbal in 2008.

The population of recyclers from the region of interest was identified by means of a census that involved going through the streets of the locations on the days of garbage collection.

Information was collected using a structured survey that addressed work, health, occupational risks, and perceived morbidity conditions.

A total of 104 people engaged in solid waste recovery in the corregimientos took part in the census, 96.4% of which participated in the study after signing a free informed consent.

Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 11, obtaining relative frequencies, proportions, prevalence ratios (PR), 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), and p- values in order to identify statistical differences between the groups of recyclers with p < 0.05.

Participation in the study was voluntary. Recyclers expressed their interest in participating in the research through a written informed consent. This investigation was classified as a harmless investigation, according to the Resolution 8430 of 1993, issued by the Colombian Ministry of Health.

RESULTS

Thirty-four people engaged in recycling were affiliated to a social organization integrated to the waste recovery center of the corregimientos, and 66 worked independently (Table 1).

People working in this business were predominantly male in both groups. The frequency of people in productive age was higher in the group of recyclers who were affiliated with a union, since unaffiliated workers showed higher age values. Similarly, a higher educational level was found in recyclers who were affiliated to the social organization of the waste recovery center than in those who were not, which had a higher frequency of people with complete elementary and high school education, including technical training (Table 2).

Both groups, affiliated and unaffiliated, emphasized that their work was not only a source of income and a way of being useful to the economy, but it also contributed to society, since it was directly involved in the maintenance of a cleaner environment (perception higher than 40% in unaffiliated recyclers and higher that 59% in affiliated recyclers).

The working periods (in hours per day and in days per week), as well as the need of having another informal occupation, was similar in both groups; work autonomy at work, application of knowledge at work, and rest during the week did not show statistically significant differences among the groups (Table 3).

The fulfillment of basic needs provided by the income derived from the recycling activity, work satisfaction, working with a companion, practice of relaxation exercises, access to training activities, and periodic provision of work supplies showed statistically significant differences favoring recyclers affiliated to the recovery centers (Table 3).

There were differences in terms of distance covered for the collection of recyclable material, with statistical significance favoring unaffiliated recyclers, mostly of which covered distances of less than 500 m (Table 3); affiliated recyclers covered broader regions due to availability of a vehicle. These recyclers had greater and better working means and instruments.

Being a recycling worker affiliated to a business social organization enabled the recyclers to have the social security guarantees established by the Law 100 of 1993, such as health, benefits, and membership to insurance companies for occupational risks; 57% of the unaffiliated recyclers were linked to the health system, most of them through the system supported by the State. Ten unaffiliated recyclers had all the social security guarantees derived from the alternative occupations taken up by these people. Differences in social security were statistically significant in both groups favoring recyclers affiliated to the waste recovery centers.

Both groups exhibited risk factors of biological nature, related with inadequate body postures, physical risk and chemical risk, inherent to their work, with significant differences regarding a higher frequency of exposure of unaffiliated recyclers to the contact with sharps and/or fluid-contaminated material and to sudden temperature shifts (p < 0.05). Affiliated recyclers were less exposed to vibrations and repetitive movements (p < 0.05), due to the fact that the staff of the waste recovery center managed the grinding of the recovered material for commercialization purposes (Table 4).

Higher levels of conflict with family and other people were found in unaffiliated recyclers (p < 0.05). Recyclers reported that they were rejected by the society because of their work; social support and recognition were higher among affiliated recyclers who perform the work in social organizations.

The recyclers were aware of the safety measures to face the risks related to the recycling work. However, this awareness had statistically significant differences between the study groups (p < 0.05): affiliated recyclers showed higher awareness. The use of safety measures was in favor of affiliated recyclers, and the regular change of clothing for work was the only measure that did not show statistically significant differences (p = 0.79). The use of masks, goggles, overalls or aprons, earplugs, waist protectors, peak hats, and vaccination in the last six months as minimum safety measures for the recycler was more frequent in affiliated recyclers (prevalence ratios > 1).

Attendance to doctor's appointments due to health-related events was not very frequent among recyclers (p = 0.5). This population has experienced different health-related events that produced perceived morbidity, and osteomuscular disease, respiratory conditions, and stress were the most frequent perceived events in the previous month among recyclers. Perceived morbidity by osteomuscular diseases, tooth disorders, hypertension, and heart disease in the previous month showed statistically significant differences: it was higher among unaffiliated recyclers (Table 5).

Animal or insect bites had statistically significant differences among recyclers, with a higher frequency among affiliated recyclers (Table 5).

DISCUSSION

Recycling was introduced in rural areas as a job option for their inhabitants. In this study, there were 104 people from the five corregimientos of Medellin to whom recycling was an income option for economic sustenance. A total of 33% of them were affiliated to community unions supported by state environmental institutions that dedicate resources to the integrated waste management in the localities belonging to their area of jurisdiction. Ribero

There is a group of recyclers organized in the rural area of Medellin that can be categorized into the informal sector of the national economy, according to their particular features.

The definition of informal economy can be analyzed both from the structuralist point of view (comprising unpaid family workers, self-employed workers with no professional or technical qualifications, domestic workers, employees and owners of private companies with up to ten workers) and from the institutionalist point of view, which is grounded in the labor and institutional compliance with the social security guarantees related to health, registration in benefit programs, and work contract.¹¹

Currently, it is complex to consider a single definition of informality, due to the increasing losses in terms of hires and social benefits in formal markets, which employs paid workforce through networks in informal markets. The informal sector is characterized as a reserve army of labor that is engaged in survival activities and become functional to capitalist system by reducing production costs and being manipulated by this system.¹¹

This last situation would correspond to the informal recyclers affiliated to community-based social organizations in the corregimientos of Medellin, since such organizations are weak and rely on the resources provided by the local state departments to survive and continue to exist.

According to Mariatti⁵ (2009), the work that can be performed at the community center, in the street or at home assumes a mantle of false freedom outside the factory, but is deeply determined by the capital and by market demands to lower costs and restore profit rates, as it occurs with recycling.

Another point of view on the economic sector was considered from the environmental perspective. The growing need of preserving natural resources led recycling to be valued not only as a job option for many people engaged in solid waste recovery, but also as a productive activity well accepted by society, due to its several environmental, social and economic contributions.^f

Such concept on recycling was also perceived by its own actors in the present study. They expressed the importance of their work as a source of economic sustenance and as a contribution to environmental sustainability.

Reynals ^f (2002) reports that the growth of the recycling activity in the cities, called the "magnitude of the phenomenon of garbage collectors", changed the relationships with these social actors and allowed for the creation of other new relationships with local governments, transportation companies, civil society organizations, universities, neighborhood organizations, among others. Thus, local governments were pressed to implement interventions that were very heterogeneous, including bills, concession contracts, promotion of business organizations, social policy agreements, municipal policies, training and meetings, among others.

Medellin, in its rural area, enabled the development of state initiatives of organization that allowed for the engagement of people of younger age and better educational levels in recycling, which has dignified their work.

With the organization of the activity, according to the findings of this study, clear benefits are observed for this population of recyclers, categorized as vulnerable, such as better means and instruments to perform the work, more effective safety measures to face the inherent risks of their activity, access to social security, social recognition of the importance of their work, inclusion in programs of solid waste management existing in their communities, and reduction in occupational risks with the promotion of the use of safety measures.

The difference between the affiliated recycling workers and those who work independently in terms of optimal work conditions was evident in this study. This is similar to what was stated by Mariatti⁵ (2009) in his theoretical analysis of labor metamorphosis and recycling. This author, quoting Olesker⁵ (2003), demonstrates that the informality of the recycling activity results in insufficient income, lack of working rights, and lower possibility of improving recyclers' economic conditions.

The age of the affiliated recyclers and the predominance of men and of people from low socioeconomic status are in agreement with the studies of Lenis et al⁴ (2007). Recyclers were mainly in the productive age group, most of them in the group aged 36 to 45 years, with the majority of the sample belonging to the male sex and to the socioeconomic status 1 and 2, distribution that reflects the few job opportunities available in the country and the poverty conditions caused by unemployment, which leads them to take on this occupation as an income option.

In this type of activity, the working periods of recyclers from the large cities in Colombia tend to last more than nine hours per day and, on average, they work six days during the week.⁷

This study reported the predominance of eight hours of work or less per day and five days of work or less during the week. This trend, relatively lower to that demonstrated in other studies, may be attributed to the lower amount of waste in rural areas and to the lower distances covered, since these locations have a smaller population and a smaller center area compared with large cities.

The similar results for perceived morbidity by recyclers of both groups, both affiliated and unaffiliated, can be explained by the specific characteristics of their work, given that both should perform the same activities for recovering the material. Affiliated recyclers developed additional activities, since they recover biodegradable wastes as well for the development of composting, besides the preparation of some materials to facilitate commercialization.

Acute respiratory infection is a common morbidity event in this type of population, which can be related with to the fact that recycling activities are performed in bad weather conditions.^7,14 Back conditions, muscular pain, and stress were reported as the most prevalent diseases in this study.

The frequency of osteomuscular problems were reported by other authors in this population.⁹ This type of morbidity was found by associating non-ergonomic working factors and musculoskeletal pain, including neurophychological compromise as an effect of the exposure to chemical substances and compromised psychosocial health related to hazardous psychosocial processes to which recyclers are exposed due to their work.⁴

Other frequent health-related events are acute intestinal and diarrheal disease,⁴ although this type of disease did not show significant prevalence in the present study, which is possibly attributable to the unfamiliarity of recyclers with the fact that the hygiene and sanitation conditions of their activity may cause infections that lead to this type of pathology.

The prevalence of symptoms related to enteric diseases and parasite infections in recyclers is significant in regions with similar socioeconomic characteristics to those found in Colombia, such as Manila, Egypt, and Asian regions. These events are accompanied by more than 35 diseases, standing out, besides diarrhea, conditions such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, poliomyelitis, skin disorders, pneumonia, and malaria, diseases highly associated with the hygiene and sanitation conditions of the environment where recyclers perform activities related to recycling.⁶

Working in bad weather conditions and the constant contact with garbage may intensify the risk of an accident due to animal or insect bites, which can potentially transmit infectious diseases to the worker. This factor is perceived by the population of recyclers, although in a greater proportion by affiliated recyclers, possibly due to the fact that they have already become aware of the health consequences of these accidents. Affiliated recyclers were engaged in a higher number of training activities on the risks of their work and can identify insect or animal bites as something harmful for their health.

The aforementioned reinforces the conclusions of Acosta Cabrera et al¹, in their study on changes in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the prevention of mosquitoes among a population from Habana, Cuba. It was said that education and training on health-related risks are very important to improve knowledge and change attitudes and risk perception that could prevent any factor that have a negative impact on the health of the population.¹

Tropical diseases, both emerging and reemerging, may present in this population group due the constant contact with vectors and animals, potential transmitting agents.⁹ For example, populations that are in contact with wastes may acquire leptospirosis more frequently.¹⁵

Working conditions of affiliated and unaffiliated recyclers should be followed and be appropriate so as to allow for the protection of the population against several risk factors for occupational health and for the access to instruments, devices or tools that facilitate a safe collection, preparation and transportation of the material.

Recyclers have precarious working and health conditions, even those pertaining to community unions. The transformation of these conditions should be one of the State's priorities, since it was acknowledged that this activity is beneficial for the recovery of wastes, the economy, the society, and the environmental sustainability.

Different authors agree on the benefits of the activity performed by people engaged in solid waste recovery, showing the need of including recycling in the policies and plans for an integrated solid waste management.^6,16,17

It is necessary to promote the social and business organization of these people from cultural, political and economical dimensions, with a perspective not only of the need but also of the opportunity to implement a responsible solid waste management and to contribute to achieve equality in Colombia and Latin America.^12,13

The integrated social waste management becomes an alternative for recyclers that can be considered a stable job option, with work conditions that provides them with appropriate tools and instruments to facilitate their labor and protects them against health risk factors derived from their work.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Corporación Autónoma Regional del Centro de Antioquia, CORANTIOQUIA, for the management support in the conduction of this investigation, and to the community unions that provide assistance to recyclers, and to independent recyclers, from the five corregimientos of Medellin, for their participation in this project.

REFERENCES

• 1. Acosta Cabrera OS, Chalgub Moreno AM, Baydes González RO, Abraham Marcel EA. Modificación de los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de la población sobre la prevención de los mosquitos. Rev Cuba Hig Epidemiol 1999;37(1):6-12.
• 2. Gómez JA, Agudelo A, Sarmiento J, Ronda E. Condiciones de trabajo y salud de los recicladores urbanos de Medellín (Colombia). Arch Prev Riesgos Labor. 2007;10(4):181-7.
• 3. Jeannot Rossi F. Desarrollo de la economía informal. Analisis Económico. 2008;23(52):133-58.
• 4. Lenis-Ballesteros V, Cuadros-Urrego Y, Botero S. López-Arango Y. Factores de riesgo biológicos en recicladores informales de la ciudad de Medellín, 2005. Rev Fac Nac Salud Publica. 2008;26(2):169-77.
• 5. Mariatti A. Metamorfosis laboral y reciclaje. Rev Katalysis. 2009;12(1):94-104.
• 6. Medina M. Scavenger cooperatives in Asia and Latin America. Resour Conserv Recycl. 2000;31(1):51-69. DOI:10.1016/S0921-3449(00)00071-9
• 7. Mariatti A. Metamorfosis laboral y reciclaje. Rev Katalysis. 2003;12(1):94-104.
• 8. Rodríguez C. En busca de alternativas económicas en tiempo de globalización: el caso de las cooperativas de recicladores de basura en Colombia. In: Santos B, García M. Emancipación social y violencia en Colombia. Bogotá: Norma; 2004.
• 9. Rotaeche Montalvo V. Salud laboral versus enfermedades tropicales e importadas. Med Segur Trab. 2009;55(215):12-8. DOI:10.4321/S0465-546X2009000200002
• 10. Rushton L. Health hazards and waste management. Br Med Bull. 2003;68:183-97. DOI:10.1093/bmb/ldg034
• 11. Sepúlveda LA. Organización y dignificación de recicladores informales. Rev El Reto. 2003;48:23-35.
• 12. Sepúlveda LA. Organización del reciclaje informal en los centros urbanos: un camino para construir equidad. Rev El Reto. 2004;51:17-8.
• 13. Sepúlveda LA. Valoración económica del reciclaje informal. Rev El Reto. 2006;62:44-9.
• 14. Silveira Graudenz G. Indicadores infecciosos e inflamatórios entre trabalhadores da limpeza urbana em São Paulo. Rev Bras Saude Ocup. 2009;34(120):106-14.
• 15. Ullmann LS, Langoni H. Interactions between environment, wild animals and human leptospirosis. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2011;17(2):119-29. DOI:10.1590/S1678-91992011000200002
• 16. Yepes DL, Vélez PA. Gómez WM. Factores que afectan la productividad del reciclador informal. Caso Medellín. Gest Ambient. 2008;11:85-96.

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^b

In the metropolitan area of Valle de Aburrá, Antioquia, Colombia, there were 3,190 recyclers in that year, more than 2,000 of which in the city of Medellin.

^c

The process of recycling has three main stages: recovery, processing and commercialization of the reusable waste. Recyclers are involved in the first stage; they are responsible for collecting and selecting the material that will be subsequently reused in other industries, constituting important social actors in the management and administration of solid wastes. Since their work involves the contact with garbage and the constant risks derived exactly from their activity,^10,14 given that the work conditions of these people do not allow them to fully develop their skills, they are exposed to different risks for health and physical integrity and are not able to rely on the social security guarantees established by law.

^d

Environmental authorities have promoted different processes for the inclusion of recyclers in the integrated social management of solid wastes, involving the recyclers resident in the rural areas of the city of Medellin since 2004.

^e

(2003) reported that six out of ten workers in the metropolitan areas of Colombia were engaged in the informal sector in 2006 and that 30% of the families engaged in recycling were members of organizations, whereas 70% worked independently.

ª

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  Oct 2012

History

• Received
  13 June 2011
• Accepted
  16 Apr 2012