Hazard Assessment in the Working Environment of Electronic Waste Sorting in a Recycling Industry

Abstract

This retrospective cross- sectional analytical study aimed to 1) identify hazards and 2) assess hazard levels in the working environment of electronic waste ( e- waste) sorting. The study utilized secondary data from two monitoring periods between 2019 and 2022 to analyze the working environment, combined with a walk- through survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including maximum and minimum values, means, and standard deviations. The working environment was evaluated against legal standards in each relevant aspect. The study revealed that 1) hazards in the working environment of sorting were found to fall into two categories chemical and physical. The average levels of total dust (≤100 µm) and respirable dust (≤10 µm) have increased since 2019. Total dust increased from 0.39 ± 0.02 to 0.46 ± 0.06 mg/m^³, and respirable dust increased from 0. 25 to 0. 33 mg/ m^³. However, the measured values are still below the occupational health standards. Copper and lead dust levels were very low, while the average noise level over 8 hours has decreased since 2019, from 67. 40 ± 0. 85 dBA to 64.27 ± 0.46 dBA, and remained within the standard limits. 2) The level of hazards was found to be moderate to high. This study indicates that hazards in the working environment of the e-waste sorting are multifaceted across different work areas, exposing workers to multiple health hazards if work is rotated between areas.