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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Role and Responsibilities of a City Manager

Image
In a government that employs council members, a city manager is usually tasked with ensuring that everything runs smoothly.   Working as a city manager requires multiple skill sets and the ability to handle a wide array of responsibilities. After all, it’s not easy to keep a city running smoothly and without incident. Here’s a quick brief on what one should expect out of a city manager. Duties & Responsibilities While the people elect the city council, the city manager is hired by the city council  members. The city manager has to serve as the chief executive of the city government. Although the city manager has no authority to vote on laws and regulations, they are tasked with carrying out many responsibilities that are delegated to the city council.   Working as a representative of the city, the city manager is tasked with managing the city’s budget, overseeing staff and meeting with the head of departments to ensure everything is running smoothly. They even handle media attentio
Read more

How to Prepare for Sanitation Exam 2060 DCAS?

Image
The   sanitation exam 2060 DCAS  is commencing later this year, so you need to start preparing for it immediately to ace it. The exam tests a candidate's problem-solving, time management, cognitive, strength, and observation skills through a set of different tests. As you won't have much time to complete the test, it's best to work alongside a professional to prepare for the test. Civil Service Success  offers NYC sanitation exam prep classes  to help students work on their weak areas and clear the test with high merit. For more help, here are some tips to prepare for the NYC sanitation exams . Sanitation Exam 2060 DCAS  – How to Prepare for the Exam? 1.  Working on Required Abilities for the Sanitation Exam 2060 DCAS The sanitation worker's job is more focused on abilities than knowledge. Here are some abilities that are assessed in a candidate. Observation Skills: The test contains a few questions that check the candidate's ability to observe and find answers . Al
Read more

The Pros and Cons of Civil Service Jobs

Image
Civil service workers are employees of the local, federal, and state government who serve the public. Common civil service jobs include postal workers, court officers, police officers, traffic controllers, sanitation workers, and more. It’s one of the most popular career paths, and there are thousands of positions available that fit many different of skill- sets. According to the latest statistics, there are almost 22.5 million people  working for the American Government. Over three million of these workers are civil service workers who enjoy some of the most attractive benefits packages of any industry in America.   However, as with any other job, there are some pros and cons of bein g  a civil worker. Let's take a look at them h e re: Pros Flexibility and Benefits: One of the most important aspects of a civil service job is the flexibility and. Most positions give employees great work/life balance that comes in the form of several paid vacation and sick days, as w
Read more