Recyclable waste pickers: occupational risk assessment: case study of the city of Anapolis, Goias, in Brazil

Goias's state has difficulties in managing their municipal solid waste ( MSW). Out of 246 cities, only 15 cities have licensed landfills. This scenario jeopardizes the environment and people's health. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a risk assessment to which waste pickers from Anapolis, Goias, are exposed to during the waste sorting process. The study compared the occupational hazards of when collectors worked in the city's old landfill to the current workplace, a central screening. For this evaluation, we used the Compound Matrix and William T. Fine's methods, semi-quantitative methodologies. The results showed that ergonomic and psychosocial risks, such as inappropriate postures and repetitive efforts required immediate suspension of the waste picker's activities in the controlled landfill. As well as the relocation of these professionals to the central screening has reduced the risks to which they were exposed.