Analysis of working conditions focusing on biological risk: firefighters in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
Firefighters are exposed to a wide range of risks, among them, biological risk. The objective was to analyze working conditions of firefighters in the city of Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, focusing on risk conditions of exposure to biological material. Three hundred and seven (307) firefighters were interviewed for data collection and observed for ergonomic job analysis (AET).


RESULTS
63.5% of the firefighters suffered some kind of job related accident with blood or body fluids. Statistically significant association was found between having suffered accidents at work and incomplete use of personal protective equipment (PPE). About AET regarding the biological risks, 57.1% of all patients had blood or secretions, which corresponds in average to 16.0% of the total work time, based on a working day of 24 h. Besides biological risks, other stressing factors were identified: emergency and complexity of decision, high responsibility regarding patients and environment, and conflicts. Health promotion and accident prevention actions must be emphasized as measures to minimize these risks.
Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária s/n, 79070-900, Campo Grande - MS, Brazil. l.contrera@ufms.br
Luciana
L
Contrera-Moreno
Sonia Maria Oliveira
SM
de Andrade
Ana Rita Coimbra
AR
Motta-Castro
Alexandra Maria Almeida Carvalho
AM
Pinto
Frederico Reis Pouso
FR
Salas
Alcione Cavalheiros Faro
AC
Stief
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D001826:Body Fluids; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011482:Protective Devices; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D016526:Workload