LIXO DOMÉSTICO PRODUZIDO EM GOIÂNIA: A EXPOSIÇÃO E O IMPACTO NA SAÚDE DOS COLETORES

Abstract

Household waste contains chemicals, toxic substances and pathogenic agents which are precursors of disease and human intoxication. The inappropriate dealing and disposal of these elements pose serious consequences for the environment. Garbage collectors maintain direct and indirect contact with such agents while working and this vulnerability predisposes them to contamination and workplace accidents shown in pathological signs and symptoms. One only gets to know the health hazards of collectors and how these are related to their work of collecting by observing the work process and analyzing the health problems reported by them in medical records. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on household garbage collectors in Goiania, Goiás, Brazil. The methodology used was the systematic observation of the work processes and the collection of data from medical records and Workplace Accident Report forms on the health problems presented by garbage collectors between June 2009 and June 2010. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, a sample of 44 collectors from among 96 workers was obtained data about social demographic and the relationship with the realized work by questionnaires. Data was analyzed using the 2010 Excel and the relative frequencies were calculated. This study was approved by the PUC Goiás Ethics Research Committee and registered as number 0018.0.168.000.11. From the data presented, it was seen that in collecting household waste, workers are exposed to physical, chemical and biological agents and to ergonomic risks, accidents and social hazards, all of which are risk factors for the incidence and development of occupational diseases. The collectors in this study suffered from musculoskeletal diseases and injuries especially to their hands, arms and legs. The determining and conditioning factors of these health problems are related to the work process. The workers considered that better methods of dealing with waste prevents workplace accidents and protects them from exposure to physical, chemical and biological agents. Better working conditions and changes in the organization of work are recommended to safeguard the health of garbage collectors.