Metal worker's perceptions on health problems and environmental risks at the workplace

Abstract

Research was carried out in Osasco, Greater São Paulo, to know the main health problems perceived by metalworkers' at their workplace and the need actions to prevent it or minimize them. With this objectif in mind, 452 workers were interviewed at a metallurgic industry by means of a questionnaire in which they were asked first to mention five health problems perceived at the workplace, and then to select the most important one. They were also asked what they thought managers, supervisors and workers could do to avoid or minimize the main risk each worker had selected. According to their answer, although the chemical risk was the most frequently mentioned, the suggestions to actions to be implemented by supervisors and managers were related to psycho-social factors, that is, human problems of administration and organizational behavior.