The Perilous Job of Sanitation Workers

The New York Times has reported that the novel COVID-19 virus has now infected more than one million people and killed at least 53,000 people in the United States. Amid growing concerns of the continued spread of the virus and the continued rise in the death toll, essential workers are risking their lives to ensure the country continues to function, and the general population gets what it needs despite stay-at-home orders.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo reduced the state’s workforce to only those who are deemed essential. Alongside healthcare workers and reporters, sanitation workers make up a significant part of the state’s essential workforce. Sanitation workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and that was before the coronavirus global pandemic!
Here’s everything you need to know about the perilous but extremely important job of sanitation workers.

What Sanitation Workers Do

The City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is in charge of picking up the trash of residents, schools, and non-profit organizations. Businesses and restaurants are obligated to pay for private trash collection. The garbage trucks that sanitation workers use utilize “hoppers”—metal breaks down and pushes trash to the back of the vehicle. This can be particularly dangerous because the garbage is broken down quickly, and some of the trash can spray outward quickly. In one such incident, a Brooklyn sanitation worker was killed because the hopper sprayed trash that contained discarded acid.

The State of Sanitation Workers across the Globe

Around the world, the plight of sanitation workers is dire, indeed. According to a report by organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization, the World Bank, and Water Aid, sanitation workers in nine countries—South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Bolivia, and Haiti—suffer extreme health safety hazards.


The nature of working in sanitation brings workers into direct contact with human waste, risking disease and accidents due to poor working conditions. They also suffer from the risk of exposure to toxic gases that collect in sewers and septic tanks, which can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, and chronic coughing. At high concentrations, these gases can cause sanitation workers to lose consciousness and even die.
According to data from WHO, access to basic and safe sanitation facilities varies significantly across regions in the world. Australia and New Zealand sit at the top with 100%. Northern America and Europe have 97% safe and basic access. However, estimated numbers for Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and Central and South Asia are among the lowest with 28%, 36%, and 50%, respectively.

Register for the New York City Sanitation Worker Exam

If you’re registering for the New York City Sanitation worker exam, consider taking preparation classes.
Civil Service Success is an esteemed institution that has been helping candidates prepare for the NYC civil services exams, including the exams for sanitation workers, the Suffolk County police, the NYS Court Officer, and NYC firefighters.
Get in touch with them today for more information.

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