The sanitation workers of Dehradun have become prone to health hazards as the practice of wearing masks and gloves is still not prevalent among them. The authorities concerned claim that the practise is not widely adopted by the sanitation workers as they are not habituated to this practice and feel uncomfortable wearing gloves and masks while working. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) on solid waste management project being executed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) states that the sanitation workers must be provided gloves, mask and jackets in order to protect them from health hazards of handling garbage without protection. Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) executive director Siddharth Jain said, “We have provided gloves, masks and jackets to the sanitation workers but they do not wear these while working. The reason is that they feel uncomfortable with these gloves and masks. We have also maintained a register for this purpose but the workers refuse to wear the protection masks.” He further said that it is difficult to keep a record of those workers who refuse to comply with the safety measures. The company employs around 250 workers and every six months, a health camp is organised for them. In this camp, it is ensured that all the sanitation workers are given tetanus injection. However, only five-six workers turn up for this camp, he added. He averred that most of the workers are unaware of the health hazards due to which they have developed a number of health problems. Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, in this regard, says, “There are around 1,600 sanitation workers working under the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun but the provision of masks and gloves is there only for those workers who have been designated to clean drainages.” He admitted that the remaining workers will continue to work without the safety measures because this is what they are used to. The sanitation workers refuse to wear gloves and masks as they are not habituated to this practice. The workers are ignorant of the health hazards caused by their negligence, he added.