WORKING CONDITIONS AND HYGIENE AT SANITARY LANDFILLS IN FINLAND

Airborne dust at five sanitary landfills in Finland was analysed to determine the concentrations of total dust, heavy metals and bioaerosols. Attention was also paid to the workers' contact exposure to bacteria and their noise exposure and to the spreading of bioaerosols during spray irrigation with the leachate. As might be expected, the dust concentrations depended on the quantity and quality of refuse, traffic, working of the landfill compactor and the weather. The highest concentrations of dust and bacteria were measured at the biggest landfills in warm windy weather in August. The concentrations and exposures were otherwise not very high. Because of the occasionally high concentrations of bacteria in the working air of the landfill, the stopper should try to work upwind and use a mask, when it is needed. In summer the dust concentrations could be decreased by irrigation of the refuse terrace with leachate. Pressurized air in the cabin and filtration of inflowing air would prevent the penetration of dust into the cabin. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on the working conditions and medical examinations of landfill workers. The small landfills, where more than half of the Finnish landfill workers are employed, lack telephones, first-aid equipment, fire extinguishers and fresh water. The attention paid to the health of the workers by the occupational health service has also been inadequate.