Policing is not an easy job anywhere in the world. This is particularly so in Bangladesh where the police are often not well-trained, physically not fit, poorly paid, disliked, and not trusted by the public in general. They often have to deal with unruly mob, must deal with political programs, protests and opponents and may not always have access to all modern right equipment, tools, and technology. They may have to work in long, abnormal, and unpredictable shifts. They often remain standing for a long time under the burning sun in the hot and humid Bangladesh weather, and they have to handle murder, violence, and other traumatic events on a daily basis.
The police force faces a lot of hazards at their work. According to a Bangladesh newspaper report, 169 police were killed and 360 were injured in traffic accidents only between 2018-2020. Police in Bangladesh often get injured in crashes involving protests as this newspaper headline on March 07, 2022 reads "5 cops injured, 3 detained as protesters clash with police in Kakrail". Very few discussions take place on improving occupational health and safety (OHS) of the law enforcement agents in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh police force plays the most critical role in crime prevention and control. There is a need to understand how occupational hazards affect this workforce to develop and deliver effective interventions and create a conducive working environment for them. A better and safer work environment can also help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of on-duty police officers. The International Labor Organization (ILO) grouped the kinds of hazards police officers face as accidents of physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychological, and organizational nature.
ACCIDENT HAZARDS: Motor vehicle crashes, falls, and assaults cause a lot of injuries or fatalities among the police. These may take place during driving, patrolling, or when police are controlling violence. Police can suffer from injuries while restraining alleged crime suspects; they may also accidentally injure themselves while performing their duties. A study in Canada showed that some accidents occurred while making arrests or when the officers did not have enough preparation before the raid whereas another study from Australia showed that half of the work-related injuries occurred during policing tasks while about a third happened during receiving training. Another Australian study revealed more reports of occupational injuries, violence, and deaths among police officers than other occupations. Motor vehicle accidents were the most common causes of death.
CHEMICAL HAZARDS: ILO reported that exposure to lead during traffic control, finger-printing work, or working on the firing range is harmful to police. Also, exposure to excessive carbon monoxide levels when controlling traffic affects the health of police. A research study from the USA revealed that over a period of 31 years, 18.2 per cent of the followed-up police officers developed cancer-related to vehicle emissions close to the highways. A Taiwanese study reported that police working on the busy highway were exposed to high air pollution. These exposures are associated with other health conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. A study conducted in Germany confirmed that constant use of 2-Chloracetophenone-a tear gas-resulted in respiratory, eye, and skin problems.
PHYSICAL HAZARDS: Police are exposed to high levels of noise that are common in firing range as well as while driving emergency vehicles as it has loud horns. In one French study, police officers were found to be twice more likely to suffer from hearing loss compared to other civil servants. Users of the motorcycle were the most affected by hearing loss. A study in Brunei found that only 2/3 of police officers used hearing protective devices during shooting practice and this highlighted poor awareness and compliance.
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS: Police often have to drive or ride for long hours in motor vehicles and this can lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain. A study among police officers revealed that those with chronic diseases had higher risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders than their colleagues without a history of chronic diseases. The upper body part was more prone to musculoskeletal pain. Shoulder pains were reported more often compared to elbow or arm pains.
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS: Police are at risk of contracting blood-borne infections from needle stick injuries, close contact with infected people, or human bites. The contributory factors to needle stick injuries were direct contact with syringes and sharps that contain drugs and broken used needles. A study in the San Diego confirmed that needlestick injuries occurred frequently among police officers exposing them to HIV, hepatitis B, and C. Incidence of human bites, exposure to a mucous membrane containing blood, and cuts with contaminated objects were also reported.
PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARDS: Emotional trauma is common among police officers as they witness traumatic and horrific incidents. A study in the USA revealed a higher risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among police officers as they dealt with life-threatening events. In a Brazilian study, police officers with PTSD reported poor physical health and reported suicidal thoughts. Police are susceptible to stress and stress does affect psychological, social, and emotional life. Studies in the UK and Italy among police officers revealed work to be extremely or highly stressful. Israeli police reported a lack of resources, low salary, and work overload. Similarly, a survey in Norway demonstrated that frequent job pressure and lack of support were associated with physical and mental health problems. Police officers who felt low personal accomplishment and high depersonalization had anger and emotional exhaustion and this sometimes led to verbal aggression. Psychological problems develop other health conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
ORGANIZATIONAL HAZARDS: Shiftwork, overtime, unpredictable shift, poor relations with peers and superiors, and working in a rigidly tiered system can have negative effects on the health of police officers. In the USA, work shifts and prolonged sleep deprivation were found to be related to their weight gain. In Australia, a study among police officers exposed that shift work raised blood pressure. Among the study participants, about 70 per cent reported poor sleep quality and about 50 per cent reported severe fatigue. Another Australian study showed a significant relationship between poor cardiovascular health, mental health problems, and negative behavior in the workplace among police officers.
Reliance on research findings from other countries may not always reflect the ground reality of the working environment of Bangladesh's police force. In absence of research on their OHS, policy development and program delivery may not be fully effective. Time spent attending to occupational injuries and diseases can be used to better combat crime. Identifying the occupational hazards and their effects on the police force can help develop strategies to improve their health and safety. To improve public health and safety in Bangladesh, there is a serious need to protect its police force.
Hasnat M Alamgir is a Professor of Public Health.
