Sharing Knowledge to Prevent and Reduce Occupational Hazards
8 March 2025, Quezon City. To honor them for their priceless contributions to the environment, public health, and the economy, the waste and pollution watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition gathered women waste workers from partner communities in Quezon City for a seminar on “Occupational Hazards in the Informal Waste Sector: Preventing and Reducing Harm.”
A collaborative endeavor by the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI) and the EcoWaste Coalition, the seminar provided a safe space for 60 barangay waste workers and informal waste recyclers from Bagbag and Bagong Silangan, Quezon City to discuss common hazards associated with handling and managing wastes and their impacts to human health, especially to the health of women in the forefront of zero waste resource management.
Women waste workers deserve a secure and sustainable livelihood that will minimize, if not eradicate, hazards to their health and safety.
Before diving into the topic, Anj Aguilos, lead person of the EcoWaste Coalition for the Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project, paid a fitting tribute to the women waste workers assembled. “You are an invaluable partner in protecting and caring for the environment, particularly in managing wastes generated by our homes and neighborhoods. As we recognize, honor and thank you for your service, which is often performed in difficult and precarious conditions, the EcoWaste Coalition wishes that your health and safety will be given due attention and priority.”
ACRI researcher Anna Enriquez empowers women waste workers with information and knowledge of work-related hazards and measures to minimize such hazards.
Resource person Anna Enriquez, ACRI researcher, led the discussion aimed at empowering women waste workers with knowledge to protect their health and safety from hazards inherent to their work, including:
— Physical hazards, such as heavy lifting and repetitive motions that can lead to low back pain, joint problems and other musculoskeletal disorders; injuries from sharp objects; slips and falls; and exposure to extreme weather, including intense heat.
— Biological hazards, such as contact with viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and moulds, as well as bioaerosols, which can lead to allergic reactions, infections and diseases.
— Chemical hazards, such as exposure to chemical residues in pesticide containers; heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in electronic waste; brominated flame retardants and other hazardous additives in plastics; and toxic fumes from open waste burning, which can cause a host of serious health problems.
A seminar participant jots down notes as the hazards inherent to the job of women waste workers are discussed.
Enriquez also talked about the health impacts specific to women such as menstrual and pregnancy complications, urinary tract infections, and cancer risks, which drew an enthusiastic response from the participants. Frequent exposure to chemical and physical hazards, for instance, can cause irregular and more painful dysmenorrhea, as well as pregnancy complications such as increased risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and low birth weight in babies. Long-term exposure to hazardous substances increases the risk of cancers in the breasts, ovaries, and uterus.
Enriquez also highlighted mental health issues that women in the waste sector may face, including gender-based stressors such as societal stigma, financial insecurity, and balancing family care with work responsibilities. “The dual burden of caregiving at home and unsafe working conditions increases stress and limits the ability to prioritize personal health,” she pointed out.
The seminar provided an interactive conversation on practical measures that could help in minimizing the health and safety risks faced by waste workers in the conduct of their work, particularly proper hand washing and other basic hygiene practices; correct lifting methods and other safe handling techniques; and wearing personal protective equipment such as thick and chemical-resistant gloves to protect against cuts and harmful substances, and face masks to prevent inhalation of hazardous gases and particles.
The placard says it all – women are essential partners in building clean, healthy and safe communities for all.
The seminar concluded with the EcoWaste Coalition affirming its recognition of the essential role of women waste workers in upholding our human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in maintaining community health and hygiene, in alleviating poverty, and promoting a socially just circular economy.
“We are one with women waste workers in amplifying their voices and in defending their rights,” the group signified.
