PBS高端访谈:疫情下的清洁工人（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: When you think of essential workers during this pandemic, typically, first responders and hospital workers come to mind. But a key function of society is, of course, picking up our garbage to keep our communities clean. PBS station WTTW in Chicago is producing a firsthand series of conversations with individuals affected by the pandemic. Sanitation worker Sammy Dattulo says that his job is as essential as ever.

SAMMY DATTULO, Sanitation Worker: The police officers can't stop doing what they're doing because of this virus. The fire department going to stop putting out a fire because they're worried about catching this? No, they are not going do that. And we can't stop doing what we're doing. We have to do our job. It's just like the first responders. We serve. And now we're protecting, because, if we don't get their garbage, they got all this bacteria. And people can get infected by that. I take pride in my job, I love my job. I can't wait to get up in the morning and go to work because I love my job. And what is great about, the best part about my job is, is, the day goes by so fast. You know a certain place you need to be, like, say, for 8:00. Well, if I'm not at that place at 8:00, I'm behind. It's a fun job. I mean, and I get paid for it. Now, all of a sudden, you got this virus. You have got to be careful. It's not like you just go out, and you have no care in the world and just throwing garbage in. Now you got to worry about what you touch. I am so vulnerable to it, because you got water in the hopper. You got, there's human feces in there sometimes, diapers. Today, I got splashed what water. I had to get, immediately run, get my Clorox wipes and wipe my face.

You get that splashed in your face, you have got to make sure you got hand soap or hand sanitizer to wash your face, because you get it in your mouth or your eyes or your ears, that is why you have to keep washing your hands. When I'm working, now, I'm not realizing it. Even though I got my gloves on, I'm touching stuff with garbage, and I'm touching my steering wheel again. Well, like, I'm good. But we're, not supposed to be taking my gloves off. Touch the steering wheel. Oh, touch my face. Now I'm infected. You have to take extra precaution now, because this is, I can take this home to my family. I got a 4-year-old grandson that is there. And I don't want to get him sick. I couldn't live with myself. My biggest fear is catching it. That is my biggest fear, because I am up in age, and I am working on my retirement. Could it affect me if I can't work again? And what happens if it affects my lungs, where I can't breathe like I used to? Yes, it is scary. Am I scared to go to work? Yes, I am. I am not going to lie. But if they don't have someone to take their garbage, what are they going to do with it? They really rely on us. It's just do my job. I got to do it. It is something I have to do. It is something I have to do.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Sammy Dattulo, we appreciate you and every single sanitation worker out there. Thank you.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：当我们想到疫情期间的必要工作人员时，最典型的例子就是一线的应急人员和医院的工作人员。不过，还有一类人当然也发挥着很重要的社会功能，他们就是拾掇垃圾来保持社区整洁的人。我台驻芝加哥站正在制作关于受到疫情影响的人的系列报道。环卫工人萨米说自己的工作跟平日里一样重要。

萨米，环卫工人：警官们不能因为疫情而停止工作。消防员会因为害怕感染新冠而不去灭火吗？不会的，他们不会这样的。我们不能停止自己要做的事情。我们必须完成我们的工作。这就像前线的应急响应人员一样，我们是服务他人的。现在我们也起到了保护大家的作用，因为如果我们不处理垃圾，细菌就会滋生。人们会因此而感染。我为我的工作感到骄傲自豪，我热爱我的工作。我早上迫不及待的起床去工作，因为我热爱我的岗位。我觉得我的工作最棒的一点就是每天都很充实。你知道自己在什么时间要去哪个地方，比如8点的时候去哪里。如果8点无法到那个地方的话，我的进程就落后了。我的工作很有乐趣。而且也有工资可拿。但现在因为疫情的原因，就需要多加防范了。这跟平时出去无所谓地扔垃圾不一样。现在你要担心自己会接触到什么东西的问题。我们的岗位决定着我们处于危险中，容器里会有水，会有人类排泄物、尿布等。现在，如果不小心沾到什么，我就得迅速抛开擦掉，也要擦擦脸。如果脸上溅到了什么东西，就一定要确保用洗手液或者洗手皂来洗把脸。因为可能会进入口中、眼中、耳朵里，所以就要勤洗手。但工作的时候不会注意到这些。即便我戴着手套，我也会碰到垃圾，会碰到方向盘。我觉得还好，但手套一定不能摘掉。但频繁触碰方向盘和脸部就可能会感染。必须要做好防范，因为会传染给我的家人。我有4岁的孙子，我不想传染给他。我不想独活在世上。我最害怕的就是感染新冠。这是我最怕的事情，因为我已经上了年纪，快要退休了。如果我不能再次工作的话，是否会影响我？如果影响到我的肺功能，会发生什么呢？我是不是无法像过去一样呼吸呢？是的，想到这些就很可怕。那我害怕去上班吗？是的，我害怕。这一点我是不会撒谎的。但如果没有人来收拾垃圾，那垃圾要怎么处理呢？我们的工作真地很重要。我必须要完成我的工作，义不容辞。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：感谢萨米，我们感谢您和每一位环卫工人。谢谢你们。