Group tells garbage workers to protect themselves from extreme heat

TRASH PILE A worker at Urdaneta City Sanitary Landfill uses a backhoe to clear a trash pile where newly delivered garbage from different towns in Pangasinan will be dumped. — File photo by WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition is urging waste workers nationwide to take all protective measures against the extreme summer heat.

In a statement on Tuesday, EcoWaste and its seven-member groups from the informal waste sector (IWS) told waste workers to prioritize their health and have rest periods while doing door-to-door garbage collection.

“Laging magdala ng tubig at kapag mainit ay tumabi muna sa isang malilim na puno at magpahinga,” said Andres Gammad, president of Bagong Silangan Resource Collectors Association (BASIRCA), one of EcoWaste’s member groups.

(Always bring water and when the heat is intolerable, rest under a tree.)

According to EcoWaste, thousands of workers from the informal and formal waste sectors earn a living by helping manage the country’s colossal garbage estimated at about 61,000 metric tons daily.

“More often than not, door-to-door resource collectors, garbage haulers, itinerant buyers of recyclables, organic waste handlers, street sweepers and those who reclaim valuable discards from waste bins, dumps and landfills work under the blazing sun with minimal protection,” the group said.

“The very nature of their work exposes waste workers to sweltering heat and associated illnesses such as dehydration, hyperthermia (or abnormally high body temperature), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke,” it added.

To help them, EcoWaste shared the following tips:

– Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially during the hottest hours of the day.

– Eat breakfast, shower and pray before heading out to work.

– Know your body’s limits to work safely in scorching weather and adjust work hours to reduce risk.

– Be calm. Avoid getting hot-headed or angry and keep a happy and positive disposition.

– Always bring water in reusable containers and drink plenty of water.

– Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated and sugary drinks which can hasten dehydration.

– Eat cooling fruits and vegetables like cucumber and watermelon to keep your body cool.

– Put on a wide-brimmed sombrero, umbrella, hat or any head coverings like bandannas or towels.

– Carry an umbrella to shield yourself from the sun. Bring a hand fan to cool down.

– Wear long sleeves, light colored and lightweight loose-fit clothing. Bring extra clothes.

– Set an umbrella in place in your ‘kolong-kolong’ (motorcycle with sidecar for carrying recyclables) or install a ‘trapal’ (awning) using discarded tarps to block the sun.

– Avoid, if not quit, smoking and vaping to cope better and stay safe in the summer heat.

– Be alert on symptoms of heat-related sickness.

– Know how to use first aid against heat stress.

– Slow down when feeling dehydrated and weak. Find a shade. Drink water. Cool off and rest.

Moreover, EcoWaste urged employers of waste workers in the public and private sectors to adhere to Labor Advisory No. 8 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on workplace heat stress prevention and control.

Under the advisory, employers are mandated to adjust workers’ work hours and rest periods until better weather conditions set in.

The group also encouraged the public to offer workers drinking water when waste workers are serving in their communities.

Aside from BASIRCA, the six other member groups of EcoWaste Coalition are Kabulig sa Kinaiyahan Resource Collectors Association; Mintal Resource Collectors Association; Nagkakaisang Lakas ng mga Mangangalakal sa Longos; Samahan ng mga Mangangalakal in Bagong Silang; Samahan ng mga Mangangalakal Camarin; and Samahan ng mga Mangangalakal ng Scrap sa Capulong, Manila.