Assessment of the extent of health and occupational risks for workers in sewage pumping stations/ Mukalla City- Hadhramout Governorate

Abstract

This research aims to assess the occupational health and safety risks for workers in sewage pumping stations by knowing the concentration of some gaseous pollutants in the air in the space of those stations. The descriptive and inferential approach was followed by collecting and analyzing information, in addition to measuring the concentration of gaseous pollutants in the air resulting from the collection of sewage water from the city and pumping it to treatment plant or final disposal. In addition to making a questionnaire for samples of workers in the stations (shift workers, maintenance workers). The measurement results of hydrogen sulfide gas showed that it exceeded the standards of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. The results of the readings for measuring carbon monoxide gas confirmed the increase in gas concentration to the extent that the standard device was not able to read the amount of gas contained in the stations. The noise readings in the generator locations in the stations revealed varying results, as they exceeded the permissible limits in the GCC standard, as in the Charge Basalm, Siphon and Al Ghalilah stations, and the readings in the operating rooms exceeded the standards allowed in the stations except for the Al Ghalilah station. Through the questionnaire, it was found that all workers suffer from many diseases, as the number of people with eye diseases, for example, reached 33% as the highest percentage of diseases among workers and the lowest percentage recorded for heart diseases among workers. As for the stations most harmful to the health of workers, the Bagrash station recorded that it is of high risk and the Post station is the least dangerous.

     The research made recommendations, including interest in spreading environmental awareness among workers in sewage pumping stations about the danger of direct handling, whether with sewage water or the resulting gases that may reach toxicity in some times. Work on the implementation of health education and training programs for workers in the field of environmental safety, occupational and health risks, and first aid programs in those stations.