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Analysis of working conditions focusing on biological risk: firefighters in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

Issue title: IEA 2012: 18th World congress on Ergonomics - Designing a sustainable future

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Contrera-Moreno, Luciana | de Andrade, Sonia Maria Oliveira | Motta-Castro, Ana Rita Coimbra | Pinto, Alexandra Maria Almeida Carvalho | Salas, Frederico Reis Pouso | Stief, Alcione Cavalheiros Faro

Affiliations: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária s/n, 79070-900, Campo Grande – MS, Brazil | Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária s/n, 79070-900, Campo Grande – MS, Brazil | Metropolitan Fire Command, Fire Brigade of Mato Grosso do Sul, Sete de setembro Street n. 408, 79080-790, Campo Grande – MS, Brazil

Note: [] Corresponding author. Luciana Contrera-Moreno, Tel.:+55 67 3345 7353. E-mail: l.contrera@ufms.br

Keywords: Ergonomics, Personal Protective Equipment (PEE), blood, firemen, biological risks

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0855-5468

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 5468-5470, 2012

Published: 2012
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Abstract

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.

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