Samikshya Badal , Kyle Holland , Margaret Foster , Aurora B. Le
{"title":"尼泊尔非正式废物处理工人的职业安全和健康风险:绘图审查","authors":"Samikshya Badal , Kyle Holland , Margaret Foster , Aurora B. Le","doi":"10.1016/j.shaw.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Informal waste workers (IWWs) are a crucial yet under-protected worker population. IWWs in low- and middle-income countries encounter numerous occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards but are without regulatory protections. In Nepal, rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management systems have led to thousands of IWWs. The objective of this mapping review is to synthesize the existing literature on OSH hazards encountered by Nepalese IWWs. Evidence on this worker population in Nepal has yet to be summarized and this review highlights practice and research gaps that can inform future evidence-based policies and interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Inclusion criteria included English language research (1996–2024) exploring OSH risks in Nepalese IWWs. Studies focusing on formal workers, non-Nepalese, or non-OSH outcomes were excluded. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, and Journals@Ovid) and grey literature (WorldCat, Dimensions, OpenAlex, and Google Scholar) were searched, compiled, and analyzed using Covidence .</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of N = 6 studies were included in the study (four cross-sectional and two mixed methods) with a total 2,860 participants, predominantly from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. High prevalence of physical injury (66.2%), respiratory symptoms (69.9%), elevated blood lead levels (mean: 11.68 μg/dL), and mental health issues (27.4% depressive symptoms) were reported. Similarly, personal protective equipment (PPE) use was limited (32.4%), with IWWs citing cost and discomfort as primary reasons for not using it. Women IWWs were subject to higher mental health risks and social stigma.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Nepalese IWWs are exposed to severe OSH risks driven by systemic neglect. Prioritized interventions include formalization of work, increasing PPE access, and gender-inclusive policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56149,"journal":{"name":"Safety and Health at Work","volume":"16 3","pages":"Pages 325-332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Occupational Safety and Health Risks of Informal Waste Workers in Nepal: A Mapping Review\",\"authors\":\"Samikshya Badal , Kyle Holland , Margaret Foster , Aurora B. Le\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.shaw.2025.07.003\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Informal waste workers (IWWs) are a crucial yet under-protected worker population. IWWs in low- and middle-income countries encounter numerous occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards but are without regulatory protections. In Nepal, rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management systems have led to thousands of IWWs. The objective of this mapping review is to synthesize the existing literature on OSH hazards encountered by Nepalese IWWs. Evidence on this worker population in Nepal has yet to be summarized and this review highlights practice and research gaps that can inform future evidence-based policies and interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Inclusion criteria included English language research (1996–2024) exploring OSH risks in Nepalese IWWs. Studies focusing on formal workers, non-Nepalese, or non-OSH outcomes were excluded. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, and Journals@Ovid) and grey literature (WorldCat, Dimensions, OpenAlex, and Google Scholar) were searched, compiled, and analyzed using Covidence .</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of N = 6 studies were included in the study (four cross-sectional and two mixed methods) with a total 2,860 participants, predominantly from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. High prevalence of physical injury (66.2%), respiratory symptoms (69.9%), elevated blood lead levels (mean: 11.68 μg/dL), and mental health issues (27.4% depressive symptoms) were reported. Similarly, personal protective equipment (PPE) use was limited (32.4%), with IWWs citing cost and discomfort as primary reasons for not using it. Women IWWs were subject to higher mental health risks and social stigma.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Nepalese IWWs are exposed to severe OSH risks driven by systemic neglect. Prioritized interventions include formalization of work, increasing PPE access, and gender-inclusive policies.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":56149,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Safety and Health at Work\",\"volume\":\"16 3\",\"pages\":\"Pages 325-332\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":2.9000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-09-01\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Safety and Health at Work\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"3\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209379112500054X\",\"RegionNum\":3,\"RegionCategory\":\"医学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Safety and Health at Work","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209379112500054X","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
Occupational Safety and Health Risks of Informal Waste Workers in Nepal: A Mapping Review
Background
Informal waste workers (IWWs) are a crucial yet under-protected worker population. IWWs in low- and middle-income countries encounter numerous occupational safety and health (OSH) hazards but are without regulatory protections. In Nepal, rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management systems have led to thousands of IWWs. The objective of this mapping review is to synthesize the existing literature on OSH hazards encountered by Nepalese IWWs. Evidence on this worker population in Nepal has yet to be summarized and this review highlights practice and research gaps that can inform future evidence-based policies and interventions.
Methods
Inclusion criteria included English language research (1996–2024) exploring OSH risks in Nepalese IWWs. Studies focusing on formal workers, non-Nepalese, or non-OSH outcomes were excluded. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, and Journals@Ovid) and grey literature (WorldCat, Dimensions, OpenAlex, and Google Scholar) were searched, compiled, and analyzed using Covidence .
Results
A total of N = 6 studies were included in the study (four cross-sectional and two mixed methods) with a total 2,860 participants, predominantly from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. High prevalence of physical injury (66.2%), respiratory symptoms (69.9%), elevated blood lead levels (mean: 11.68 μg/dL), and mental health issues (27.4% depressive symptoms) were reported. Similarly, personal protective equipment (PPE) use was limited (32.4%), with IWWs citing cost and discomfort as primary reasons for not using it. Women IWWs were subject to higher mental health risks and social stigma.
Conclusion
Nepalese IWWs are exposed to severe OSH risks driven by systemic neglect. Prioritized interventions include formalization of work, increasing PPE access, and gender-inclusive policies.
期刊介绍:
Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.