Thermographic images to measure health risks of workers exposed to artificially refrigerated environments

Thermography generates high-resolution imagery in real time and is a non-invasive and painless technique devoid of physical contact or exposure to any type of radiation. This technique has been successfully applied to different areas, such as health- and safety-related applications, to control cold risk in workers exposed to low-temperature environments. Thus, this study aims to analyze skin temperature variations in three body parts of the upper limbs (fingers, the center of the hands and wrists on both the left and right sides of the body) caused by exposure to low temperatures in air-conditioned and artificially controlled work environments. The objective is to assess thermographys adequacy in controlling workers health risks. This study used environmental monitoring equipment and infrared radiation detection cameras to capture images of the body parts that were evaluated. The research was conducted on 20 workers from two sectors of a poultry slaughterhouse. Among the three body parts evaluated, the lowest temperatures occurred in the workers fingertips, which averaged 16.86ºC. This fact may relate to discomfort, pain, decreased performance, functional imbalance and cold-related diseases caused by faulty conditions and/or the equipment used to ensure the workers thermal comfort. It was concluded that the thermographic evaluation of activities that involve exposure to the cold is efficient, as well as feasible, when quantifying the potential threats of environmental cold to workers health.(AU)

Thermographic images to measure health risks of workers exposed to artificially refrigerated environments

Thermography generates high-resolution imagery in real time and is a non-invasive and painless technique devoid of physical contact or exposure to any type of radiation. This technique has been successfully applied to different areas, such as health- and safety-related applications, to control cold risk in workers exposed to low-temperature environments. Thus, this study aims to analyze skin temperature variations in three body parts of the upper limbs (fingers, the center of the hands and wrists on both the left and right sides of the body) caused by exposure to low temperatures in air-conditioned and artificially controlled work environments. The objective is to assess thermographys adequacy in controlling workers health risks. This study used environmental monitoring equipment and infrared radiation detection cameras to capture images of the body parts that were evaluated. The research was conducted on 20 workers from two sectors of a poultry slaughterhouse. Among the three body parts evaluated, the lowest temperatures occurred in the workers fingertips, which averaged 16.86ºC. This fact may relate to discomfort, pain, decreased performance, functional imbalance and cold-related diseases caused by faulty conditions and/or the equipment used to ensure the workers thermal comfort. It was concluded that the thermographic evaluation of activities that involve exposure to the cold is efficient, as well as feasible, when quantifying the potential threats of environmental cold to workers health.

Indicators of work accidents in slaughter refrigerators and broiler processing

This research aims at describing data for an epidemiological profile, as well as to contribute to the improvement of systems of information, prevention and risk control of accidents in the workplace in processing and further processing broiler plants. In this study, data from documents of 1,274 investigations of typical work accidents were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis, and the frequency and severity of accidents were calculated according to NBR 14280:2001. The results show that men tend to have more accidents than women; 69.8% of those injured had been in the company for less than 3 years; 37% of the accidents were cuts; 35.6% were bruises; the most affected body parts were hands and fingers, representing a total of 48% of all accidents; 41.6% of victims were not using personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of the accident; the underlying causative condition of 54.9% of the accidents was the lack of personal safety. The proportion for each accident with leave was 1.7 accidents without leave but with a need for relocation of activity and 10.9 accidents without leave without relocation. There were amputation cases among some of those given leave of absence. For every million hours worked, there were 3.2 accidents with leave and 139.4 days of absence were registered. The study concludes that accident rates in in processing and further processing broiler plants are high, and that it is extremely important to establish an epidemiological profile in order to guide prevention and control actions.(AU)

Indicators of work accidents in slaughter refrigerators and broiler processing

This research aims at describing data for an epidemiological profile, as well as to contribute to the improvement of systems of information, prevention and risk control of accidents in the workplace in processing and further processing broiler plants. In this study, data from documents of 1,274 investigations of typical work accidents were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis, and the frequency and severity of accidents were calculated according to NBR 14280:2001. The results show that men tend to have more accidents than women; 69.8% of those injured had been in the company for less than 3 years; 37% of the accidents were cuts; 35.6% were bruises; the most affected body parts were hands and fingers, representing a total of 48% of all accidents; 41.6% of victims were not using personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of the accident; the underlying causative condition of 54.9% of the accidents was the lack of personal safety. The proportion for each accident with leave was 1.7 accidents without leave but with a need for relocation of activity and 10.9 accidents without leave without relocation. There were amputation cases among some of those given leave of absence. For every million hours worked, there were 3.2 accidents with leave and 139.4 days of absence were registered. The study concludes that accident rates in in processing and further processing broiler plants are high, and that it is extremely important to establish an epidemiological profile in order to guide prevention and control actions.