Health and safety impact assessments among e-waste scavengers in Nigeria

Ibifunmilola, Stella Ebalehita (2024) Health and safety impact assessments among e-waste scavengers in Nigeria. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

The global increase in the use of electrical and electronic equipment has stimulated a simultaneous rise in discarded and obsolete ones which are referred to as electronic waste (e-waste). Increasing e-waste generation poses heightened challenges for low and middle-income nations such as Nigeria. The research aimed to assess health and safety awareness levels and evaluate the quality of work life among informal e-waste recyclers to enhance their occupational health, safety practices, and well-being. A quantitative methodology was adopted, utilising a survey design with multiple questionnaires in a cross-sectional approach. The research was structured into three distinct studies. Study 1 assessed scavengers existing knowledge and awareness of the impact of e-waste hazards on human health. Study 2 measured their existing controls, safety awareness, training, and safety behaviour, while Study 3 measured the quality of work life. Data was gathered from 395 recyclers across two prominent recycling sites in Lagos. Key findings reveal the recyclers limited knowledge and awareness of e-waste's health hazards, with their occupational hygiene practices falling short of acceptable standards. The result of multiple regression analysis shows that safety awareness and behaviour significantly supported the safety climate (p- < 0.001), indicating that an increase in safety awareness and positive behaviour will impact the overall safety climate in the workplace. Furthermore, in a mediation analysis, the perception of safety when working together shows that workplace collective efforts were found to potentially promote positive safety behaviour. In assessing the quality of work life, five distinct factors - Job satisfaction, general well-being, occupational stress, work environment, and home-work balance emerged. Job satisfaction is overwhelmingly identified by recyclers as the most impactful on their work life. Through this comprehensive exploration, the study highlights the need to promote health and safety awareness and improve occupational hygiene practices and the work environment for informal e-waste recyclers in Nigeria.