Staff Request Health Checks Following Exposure to Mandung Landfill Fire Smoke
Dozens of employees and staff of the Tabanable Waste and Fecal Matter Processing Regional Technical Service Unit (UPTD) continue to be exposed to smoke from the Mandung landfill fire, which has been ongoing for a week. The prolonged exposure to smoke has prompted calls for health examinations for the staff.
The Head of the Tabanan Waste and Fecal Matter Processing UPTD, I Wayan Atmaja, stated that he will submit a request for health checks to the Head of the Tabanan Environmental Office (DLH). It is hoped that this request can be coordinated with the Tabanan Health Office (Dinkes) and the Kerambitan Community Health Centre (Puskesmas).
“We will submit the request for health checks for employees and staff to the Head of the Office. Because of the Mandung landfill fire, the resulting smoke persists, so employees and staff are continuously exposed to it,” Atmaja said during an interview on Wednesday.
Atmaja revealed that there are approximately 50 employees and staff at the Tabanan Waste and Fecal Matter Processing UPTD. He hopes that health checks can be conducted immediately, given that officers on-site must face the smoke directly during the ongoing cooling process.
In addition to struggling with the cooling process at the fire sites, employees and staff also perform various other duties within the landfill area. At present, Atmaja has mandated that all staff wear masks while working.
Meanwhile, the plumes of smoke from the Mandung landfill are also affecting several residential areas near the site. Reported affected areas include Kukuh Village, Samsam Village (specifically Banjar Dinas Lumajang), and Sembung Gede Village (particularly Banjar Dinas Mandung).
The Village Head of Kukuh, I Nyoman Widi Adnyana, stated that his area is most frequently affected by smoke plumes, especially at night. “At night, the smoke definitely descends. Between 8 and 9 pm, it is certainly billowing. This is common when the Mandung landfill is on fire; Kukuh Village is the most frequently hit,” said Widi.
The thickest smoke plumes were felt by the community on 27 August. However, to date, there have been no requests for health checks from the public, nor any special attention from the health centre regarding the impact of the smoke. So far, residents have only been advised to use masks when smoke enters residential areas.
Similarly, the Village Head of Samsam, I Dewa Made Sukma Medya, noted that of the six administrative divisions in Samsam Village, only Banjar Dinas Lumajang is affected by the smoke plumes. “The smoke begins to enter the area from 12 noon until the afternoon,” explained Sukma.
Meanwhile, the Head of Banjar Mandung, I Gusti Made Ari Widhiyargana, stated that his area is not broadly affected by the smoke, despite the landfill being located within his jurisdiction. The situation depends heavily on wind direction. The residential areas surrounding the landfill are the most heavily impacted due to their location north of the site.
“In the Mandung area, the residential area is most frequently affected by smoke plumes. However, so far there have been no reports from residents regarding health disturbances due to the smoke. Nevertheless, we continue to monitor the situation in case the smoke thickens and residents require assistance,” he said.
On the other hand, the Head of the Tabanan Environmental Office, I Made Surya Dharma, stated that they will soon coordinate with the Kerambitan Community Health Centre and communicate directly with the village heads of the affected areas. However, priority is currently being given to the cooling process at the Mandung landfill site.
“Coordination with the Kerambitam Health Centre and direct communication with the affected village heads will be carried out. However, cooling at the site and handling the situation is the priority,” explained Surya Dharma.
Surya Dharma added that the control and cooling process in the burned landfill area is conducted routinely. Officers perform cooling operations in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Additionally, monitoring of the landfill area is carried out periodically.
“We routinely control the landfill twice a week. Cooling in the burned area is done in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This is the standard operating procedure,” emphasized Surya Dharma.
Every day, Surya Dharma noted, there are 10 personnel on duty at the site to carry out the cooling process for points that are still emitting smoke or embers. The officers work in shifts, with each shift consisting of 10 people tasked with spraying the burned area to cool the embers and reduce smoke plumes. The spraying process is conducted twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.