Community
Giving Sanitary
Workers their due
In the midst of darkness, while most ofus are still clutching our pillows, an unseen fleet of dedicatedmen head out to brave the elements and more importantly, to keepour island clean.
The garbage collectors of the Cayman Islandsare essential, yet their efforts on the residential and commercialroutes that they are assigned each day often go unappreciated.
The life of a sanitary worker, otherwiseknown as a garbage collector, is extremely demanding. The daystarts out roughly at 4:00 am, with at least 15 minutes of delegationand preparation before "hitting the streets," as onecollector puts it. There is no time for idleness once everyoneis assigned their routes by foreman, Mr. Adolphus Bryan.
Drivers and collectors head out to their trucks and the adventurebegins. After all, they are really stepping out in faith. Thoughthese men travel some routes on a regular basis, there are nowarning signals to advise them of the neighbourhood's latest "Cujo." They never know what trouble potentially awaits them around thenext corner.
Often times, men collecting garbage haveto align large, swinging containers with the back of the truck,operating controls with a level of skill borne by years of experienceand training.
This can be dangerous for the collector,as the container could loosen or a cable could snap. Also, itis not uncommon to see collectors hanging from the back of trucks,another high-risk activity that is common on residential routes.
Garbage truck driver Mr. Byron Britton comments,"It is not a bed of roses out here and it would be good ifthe public could become more aware of our contribution."
Garbage collectors work 40-44 hour/week,six days per week. Garbage never stops flowing, so they are onthe road every holiday except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Theyare required to function in all kinds of weather, and they comein contact with discarded items, from which many would cringe.
"It is a noble profession," saysMr. Bryan, who, by the way, does not collect garbage himself!
Most collection workers are in crews ofthree - one driver and two collectors. They are equipped withmasks, boots and gloves for their mission and take the utmostpride in what they do, as they know their work is essential.
In fact, this part of Government's publicservice is of crucial importance. And, if not done properly, therecould be repercussions at every level.
Grand Cayman would not be 'sanitarily-sound'and could face disease and rodent infestation if not for the workof these men.
"Very few people appreciate the riskand sacrifice these 'servants of the people' make on our behalf,"adds Mrs. Teresa Kuczynski, Chief Environmental Health Officer.
"We must never underestimate the importanceof proper sanitation in the prevention of infectious disease.These workers are at the front lines of disease prevention,"she adds
In addition to truck drivers and collectors,there are also the roadside litter collectors who ensure thatroadsides are not overwhelmed by dust and debris, and that ournewly polished shoes will be just fine. Special crews keep governmentcemeteries and public beaches clean, and special vehicles pickup medical wastes and the bodies of dead animals for incineration.
As garbage collectors collect the trash,they face many unpleasant tasks - garbage bags torn open by dogs,bags and debris thrown in a heap spewing out nasty sights likeused diapers, rotting food and sharp objects. The weight of somebags or underground bins (which the Department no longer allows)can jeopardise the health and safety of these collectors. Theseworkers place themselves in harm's way every day, and their occupationis viewed by some as degrading.
"We do our best to protect them,"adds Mrs. Kuczynski, "but we need the co-operation of thepublic in allowing our collection crews to perform their jobswithout interference."
Mrs. Kuczynski said that customers can assistin many ways, but one of the most important is to examine closely,what and how much they put in a garbage bag.
"Please remember that a human beingis picking up the bag you place along the curb and a human beingscould be harmed by its weight and/or contents. Customers oftenask me, 'Why couldn't the worker pick up the bag? I managed tocarry it out to the curb.' I remind them to multiply that 50-pluspound bag by 1,000 and they begin to realise the daily workloadof our collectors."
Customers can also help by securing theirwaste in proper garbage bins to prevent the scattering of wasteand accumulation of water, which adds to the weight. Securingone's dogs is another important step.
Mrs. Kuczynski adds, "As with otherroadside work crews, drivers must approach a waste collectionvehicle with caution and take great care in passing the truck."
When we examine the worth of work, it isimportant to consider an individual's contribution, particularlyin relation to community benefits and the cost of achieving them. It is important to look at the negative public image that thissegment of the workforce endures and realise that their worthis far more than that for which they normally receive credit. Their services are essential; it is our responsibility to ensurethat they are treated with the respect they deserve.