Work and health conditions of sugar cane workers in Brazil

Abstract

RESUMOTrata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, com abordagem quantitativa dos dados, realizada no intuito de analisar as situações de trabalho e de vida que podem oferecer riscos à saúde de trabalhadores envolvidos no corte manual e mecanizado da cana-de-açúcar. A amostra foi composta por 39 cortadores de cana e 16 operadores de colhedeiras. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de julho e agosto de 2006, utilizando-se a técnica de observação direta das situações de trabalho e moradia dos trabalhadores, e por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, que foram gravadas e posteriormente transcritas. Os dados foram analisados a partir da Teoria Social Ecológica. Foi constatado que os trabalhadores estão expostos a inúmeras situações de risco à saúde, predominantemente a riscos de ocorrência de problemas respiratórios, osteomusculares e psicológicos. Além disso, estão sujeitos a acidentes de trabalho em decorrência de sua atividade laboral. Constatou-se também que o adoecimento é determinado pela interação de fatores individuais, ambientais e sociais. DESCRITORES

Markets, Sustainability Management and Entrepreneurship

“…Eric Ries (2011) is credited with applying lean principles to founding start-ups. The lean start-up method is an iterative and agile method to develop a start-up based on listening to the needs of potential customers and testing their willingness to pay for the service or product offered by the start-up.…”

Noise exposures of sugar cane mill workers in Guatemala

“…Further health problems self-reported in excess by the noise-exposed group included hypertension, headache, and sleep disturbance (Rao, Avvaru, and Krishna 2015). Rocha, Marziale, and Hong (2010) conducted structured interviews of Brazilian sugar industry workers (39 manual sugar cane operators and 16 mechanical harvester operators). Outcomes revealed that harvester operators often work in "high-noise conditions" [not quantified] for 10-h shifts for 11 days straight.…”

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A case study among male molasses workers in Nadia district of West Bengal, India

“…The whole processes are done manually by the workers and so most of them are suffering from different types of occupational health problems mainly work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). [3,4] WMSDs are one of the most important causes for occupational hazards which not only affects the workers' efficiency and health conditions but also at the same time it decreases the production rates and waste millions of working hours. [5][6][7][8] Many researchers have reported about the strong association between awkward working postures and WMSDs [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Several studies have also shown that some others factors such as age, education level, working experience, smoking, and alcohol consumption can also affect the musculoskeletal system of the workers.…”