Development of new hard hat dimensions using user-centered design approach among oil palm harvesters.

BACKGROUND: Hard hats are among the personal protective equipment (PPE) used in many industries to reduce the impact of any falling object on the skull and also to prevent head and brain injuries. However, the practice of wearing a safety helmet during working hours is still low. This is due to the physical discomfort perceived by safety helmet users. OBJECTIVE: Given the unpopularity of the current hard hat, the general perception of workers concerning its use and its measurements are the determining factors in the development of a new hard hat. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 132 male oil palm harvesters between 19 and 60 years of age were selected from among the employees of the same oil palm harvesting company. A set of questionnaires was developed to collect their socio-demographic information as well as their perceptions of comfort and the prevalence of head injury. In addition, a set of measuring instruments, including Martin's anthropometry set, was used for head measurement and data collection in respect of the current hard hat. In this research, six respondents were randomly selected to attend an interview session for qualitative assessment.RESULTSBased on the questionnaires, the unpopularity in the use of the hard hat was largely influenced by factors related to poor design, in general, and, specifically, poor ventilation (64%), load (67% ), and physical discomfort (42% ). The measurements of the anthropometric parameters and the dimensions of the hard hat also showed a significant mismatch. CONCLUSION: The unpopularity of the current hard hat among oil palm harvesters stemmed from the discomfort from wearing, which showed that the development of a new hard hat could lead to better usage and the greater likelihood of wearing a hard hat throughout the working day.

Avaliação "in vitro" do efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase e biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores / Effect of the Cunila microcephala Benth infusion on the activity of Acetilcolinesterase enzyme and on the biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes

RESUMO Tivemos como objetivo avaliar o efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) e marcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores. Foram utilizadas amostras provenientes de 16 trabalhadores rurais expostos a pesticidas agrícolas pelo período mínimo de 5 anos e um grupo controle constituído de 16 indivíduos não expostos a agrotóxicos. As hemácias dos agricultores e o grupo A foram expostos “in vitro” à solução salina (NaCl 0,9%). Os demais grupos foram expostos à infusão de poejo nas concentrações de 0; 5; 10; 25 e 50 g/L (Grupos B; C; D e E, respectivamente). Em seguida, foram realizadas as determinações da atividade da AChE e dos níveis de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), proteínas carboniladas (PCs) e glutationa reduzida (GSH). Os resultados mostram que a infusão de poejo 50g/L, aumenta a atividade da enzima AChE e os níveis de GSH. Contudo, os níveis de TBARS e PCs diminuíram após o tratamento com a infusão de poejo 25 e 50 g/L. A infusão de poejo, na concentração de 50 g/L, é capaz de reverter, “in vitro” a inibição da atividade da AChE que ocorre pela exposição a pesticidas, e ainda demonstra um importante potencial antioxidante, tendo em vista que diminuiu danos lipídicos e proteicos e ainda, estimulou a produção do principal antioxidante não enzimático endógeno.

ABSTRACT Evaluating the effect of infusion Cunila microcephala Benth on acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) enzyme and on biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes. We used samples from 16 rural workers exposed to pesticides for a minimum of five years, and a control group composed of 16 individuals not exposed to pesticides. The erythrocytes of farmers and from group A were exposed “in vitro” the saline solution (NaCl 0,9%). The other groups were exposed to the infusion of “poejo” at concentrations of 0; 5; 10; 25 and 50 g/L (Groups B, C, D and E, respectively). Then, it was realized the analitical determinations of AChE activity and TBARS, PCs and GSH levels. The results showed that “poejo” infusion 50g/L, increased the AChE activity and GSH levels. However, the TBARS e PCs levels decreased after the treatment with “poejo” infusion 25 e 50 g/L. The “poejo” infusion 50 g/L is able to revert “in vitro” the inhibition of AChE activity that occurs by exposure to pesticides and also demonstrates an important antioxidant potential, given that decreased lipid and protein damage and also it stimulated the production of the main non-enzymatic antioxidant endogenous.