Mental Health of Elementary Schoolteachers in Southern Brazil: Working Conditions and Health Consequences.

The mental health of educators is a growing problem in many countries. This study sought to identify self-reported stressful working conditions of elementary schoolteachers and the biopsychosocial consequences of those working conditions and then identify working conditions that promote well-being for teachers in the workplace. Exploratory study was done with 37 teachers. Data collection was performed using a structured interview with a questionnaire. Results show that stressful working conditions are related to inadequate salary, an excessive number of activities, and having to take work home. Biopsychosocial consequences include anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. There was a statistically significant association between inadequate salary and anxiety (p = 0.01) and between an excessive number of activities and stress (p = 0.01). Teachers reported that a good relationship among colleagues is a working condition that promotes well-being in the workplace. The identification of stressful working conditions for teachers, the biopsychosocial consequences, and working conditions that promote well-being in the workplace are relevant to determining actions that improve the work environment and, consequently, the health of teachers.

Risk communication as a tool for training apprentice welders: a study about risk perception and occupational accidents.

The present study has aimed to identify the perceptions of apprentice welders about physical, chemical, biological, and physiological risk factors to which they are exposed; identify types of occupational accidents involving apprentice welders; and report the development of a socioenvironmental education intervention as a tool for risk communication for apprentice welders. A quantitative study was performed with 161 apprentice welders in Southern Brazil in 2011. Data collection was performed via structured interviews with the apprentice welders about risk perception, occupational accidents, and time experienced in welding. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0. The participants identified the following risk types: physical (96.9%), chemical (95%), physiological (86.3%), and biological (51.5%). In this sample, 39.7% of apprentice welders reported occupational accidents and 27.3% reported burning. The inferential analysis showed that the frequency of risk perception factors increases with the length of experience, and apprentice welders who have experienced accidents during welding activity perceive a higher amount of risk factors than those who have never experienced them. It is concluded that apprentice welders perceive risks and that they tend to relate risks with the occurrence of occupational accidents as an indicator of the dangerous nature of their activity.

The Use of Illegal Drugs and Infectious Contagious Diseases: Knowledge and Intervention among Dockworkers.

This study's objective was to analyze the use of illegal drugs by dockworkers and provide risk communication regarding the use of illegal drugs and test for infectious contagious diseases among dockworkers. This cross-sectional study including an intervention addressed to 232 dockworkers, who were individually interviewed, as well as communication of risk with testing for infectious contagious diseases for 93 dockworkers from a city in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Poisson regression analysis was used. Twenty-nine workers reported the use of illegal drugs. Poisson regression indicated that being a wharfage worker, smoker, having a high income, and heavier workload increases the prevalence of the use of illegal drugs. During risk communication, two workers were diagnosed with hepatitis B (2.2%), three (3.2%) with hepatitis C, two (2.2%) with syphilis. None of the workers, though, had HIV. This study provides evidence that can motivate further research on the topic and also lead to treatment of individuals to improve work safety, productivity, and the health of workers.

Casual dock work: profile of diseases and injuries and perception of influence on health.

The present study aimed to identify the profile of diseases and injuries that affect casual dock workers and identify casual dock workers' perceptions of positive and negative work influences on their health. This study consisted of two phases. The first phase was a quantitative study composed of a retrospective analysis, conducted with 953 medical records. The second phase of the research is a non-random sample with 51 casual dock workers. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 19.0. The average age of the casual dock workers was 48.7. Concerning working time, the majority had more than 19.6 years of dock work experience. In the first phase, 527 pathologic diagnoses were identified. The diagnoses that affected the musculoskeletal system (15.8%, N = 152; p < 0.01) were highlighted. Consequences to physical health produced by accidents stood out, with fracture registration predominating (12.8%, N = 122; p < 0.05). Significant differences were found for positive work influence on the cardiovascular system and family health. It was concluded that the diagnoses obtained are related to the influence of dock work perception and have motivated an introduction of preventive measures.

Risk perception and risk communication for training women apprentice welders: a challenge for public health nursing.

This research has aimed to identify the perceptions of women apprentice welders about physical, chemical, biological, and physiological risk factors to which they are exposed and evaluate the identification of health disorders self-reported for women apprentice welders before and after implementation of a nursing socioenvironmental intervention. A quantitative study was performed with 27 women apprentice welders (first phase) and before and after an intervention with 18 women (second phase) in Southern Brazil in 2011. The data were analysed using SPSS 19.0. The participants identified the following risk types: physical (96.2%), chemical (96.2%), physiological (88.8%), and biological (62.9%). The results show a significant difference of the pre- and posttest averages for the musculoskeletal system and a posttest average increase for the integumentary, respiratory, and auditory system. A correlation of the women apprentices' ages and the identification of health disorders were made. It was understood that the perception of women apprentices regarding a particular set of occupational risks is essential for public health nursing to develop an effective risk communication as a positive tool for teaching and learning.

Riscos físico, químico e biológico em portuários e potencialidades para alterações respiratórias / Physical, chemical and biological hazards to port workers and their potential to cause respiratory disorders* / Riesgos físico, químico y biológico en portuarios; y potencialidades de alteraciones respiratorias

Objetivou-se identificar as fontes de exposição dos trabalhadores portuários avulsos aos riscos químico, físico e biológico no ambiente laboral, com potenciais para alterações da função respiratória. Estudo de caráter quantitativo, exploratório, com técnica observacional não-participante e direta de trabalhadores de um porto naval do sul brasileiro. A coleta de dados ocorreu de julho a dezembro de 2014, sendo realizadas 87 observações de 66 trabalhadores. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos dados, por meio de frequência absoluta e percentual. As fontes predominantes de exposição ao risco físico foram frio, umidade e radiação não ionizante. As fontes de exposição ao risco químico decorreram da movimentação de grãos, fertilizantes e gases combustíveis, e o risco biológico observado foi a presença de pombos. O trabalhador portuário está exposto a fontes de riscos ocupacionais à saúde respiratória que variam conforme as cargas, atividades laborais e locais de trabalho (AU).

The present study aimed to identify the sources of chemical, physical and biological hazards to which temporary port workers are exposed in the work environment, which may cause respiratory disorders. Quantitative and exploratory study with direct nonparticipant observation of workers from a maritime port in Southern Brazil. Data was collected from July to December 2014, and 87 observations of 66 workers were made. Descriptive statistics was performed with absolute and relative frequencies (percentage). The predominant sources of physical hazards were cold, moisture and non-ionizing radiation. The sources of chemical hazard were associated with the handling of grains, fertilizers and combustible gases, and the biological hazard observed was the presence of pigeons. Port workers are exposed to occupational hazards that pose respiratory health risks, depending on the type of cargo, activities and workplace (AU).

Se objetivó identificar las fuentes de exposición de trabajadores portuarios expuestos a riesgos químico, físico y biológico en su ámbito laboral, con potenciales de alteración de la función respiratoria. Estudio cuantitativo, exploratorio, aplicando técnica observacional no participante y directa de trabajadores de un puerto naval del sur brasileño. Datos recolectados de julio a diciembre de 2014, habiendo sido realizadas 87 observaciones de 66 trabajadores. Se realizó análisis descriptivo de los datos, mediante frecuencia absoluta y porcentual. Las fuentes predominantes de exposición al riesgo físico fueron: frío, humedad y radiación no ionizante. Las fuentes de exposición al riesgo químico derivaron del traslado de granos, fertilizantes y gases combustibles; y el riesgo biológico observado fue la presencia de palomas. El trabajador portuario está expuesto a fuentes de riesgos laborales para su salud respiratoria, los cuales varían en función de las cargas, actividades laborales y lugares de trabajo (AU).