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Objective@#To investigate the reproductive health status of female workers in petrochemical industry, and to provide a reference for improving reproductive health status and developing preventive and control measures for female workers in petrochemical industry.@*Methods@#A face-to-face questionnaire survey was performed from January to October, 2016. The Questionnaire on Women's Reproductive Health was used to investigate the reproductive health of female workers in petrochemical industry. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the influencing factors for reproductive health of female workers in petrochemical industry.@*Results@#Among the 7485 female workers, 1 268 (40.9%) had abnormal menstrual period, 1 437 (46.4%) had abnormal menstrual volume, 177 (28.5%) had hyperplasia of mammary glands, and 1 807 (24.6%) had gynecological inflammation. The reproductive system diseases in female workers in petrochemical industry were associated with the factors including age, marital status, education level, unhealthy living habits, abortion, overtime work, work shift, workload, video operation, occupational exposure, positive events, and negative events, and among these factors, negative events (odds ratio[OR]= 1.856) , unhealthy living habits (OR=1.542) , and positive events (OR=1.516) had greater impact on reproductive system diseases.@*Conclusion@#Many chemical substances in the occupational environment of petrochemical industry can cause damage to the reproductive system, which not only affects the health of the female workers, but also poses potential threats to the health of their offspring. Occupational exposure, unhealthy living habits, overtime work, and work shift have great influence on reproductive system diseases in female workers.
ABSTRACT
Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi diagnosticar os problemas socioambientais prioritários e os riscos à saúde das comunidades do entorno do Complexo Petroquímico do Rio de Janeiro. De abordagem participativa, a pesquisa-ação conduziu a aplicação de entrevistas, grupos focais, reuniões e oficina com atores sociais de Porto das Caixas e Sambaetiba, localizados em Itaboraí/RJ, no período de novembro de 2013 a dezembro de 2014. Uma análise estrutural dos problemas priorizados pelas comunidades (oferta de água, tratamento de esgoto e risco de doenças transmissíveis; risco de poluição do ar e doenças respiratórias; ausência de segurança pública e risco de violência) esquematizou a relação causa-efeito-intervenção, com base no Protocolo para Avaliação Comunitária de Excelência em Saúde Ambiental. O processo revelou ausência de representatividade dos atores sociais das localidades estudadas em espaços decisórios sobre a problemática ambiental. Urgem ações educativas com profissionais e moradores que visem a favorecer a constituição de movimentos coletivos, indispensáveis à garantia dos direitos de mitigação das situações de contaminação do ar e de acesso aos serviços de saneamento e de segurança pública e de condições de menor risco à saúde.
Abstract The aim of this study was to diagnose the priority socio environmental problems and the health risks from the surrounding communities the Petrochemical Complex of Rio de Janeiro. Characterized by a participatory approach, the action research has led to the application of interviews, focal groups, meetings and workshop with social actors of Porto das Caixas and Sambaetiba districts, located in Itaboraí city/RJ from November 2013 to December 2014. A structural analysis of the problems prioritized by the communities (water supply, sewage treatment and risk of transmissible diseases; risk of air pollution and respiratory diseases; absence of public security and risk of violence) sketched out the cause-effect-intervention relationship, on the basis of the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health. The process revealed the absence of representativity of the social actors of the studied localities in spaces of decision-making on the environmental issue. Educational actions with professionals and inhabitants that aim to promote the formation of collective movements urge, indispensable to guarantee the rights of mitigation of situations of contamination of air and access to sanitation services and public security and thus of conditions of lower risk to health.
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Oil and Gas Industry , Sewage/chemistry , Water Supply/standards , Brazil , Risk , Decision Making , Air Pollution/analysis , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Community-Based Participatory Research/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Job stress and job satisfaction are important factors affecting workforce productivity. This study was carried out to investigate the job stress, job satisfaction, and workforce productivity levels, to examine the effects of job stress and job satisfaction on workforce productivity, and to identify factors associated with productivity decrement among employees of an Iranian petrochemical industry. METHODS: In this study, 125 randomly selected employees of an Iranian petrochemical company participated. The data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, Osipow occupational stress questionnaire to investigate the level of job stress, Job Descriptive Index to examine job satisfaction, and Hersey and Goldsmith questionnaire to investigate productivity in the study population. RESULTS: The levels of employees' perceived job stress and job satisfaction were moderate-high and moderate, respectively. Also, their productivity was evaluated as moderate. Although the relationship between job stress and productivity indices was not statistically significant, the positive correlation between job satisfaction and productivity indices was statistically significant. The regression modeling demonstrated that productivity was significantly associated with shift schedule, the second and the third dimensions of job stress (role insufficiency and role ambiguity), and the second dimension of job satisfaction (supervision). CONCLUSION: Corrective measures are necessary to improve the shift work system. “Role insufficiency” and “role ambiguity” should be improved and supervisor support must be increased to reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction and productivity.
Subject(s)
Appointments and Schedules , Efficiency , Job SatisfactionABSTRACT
Resumo Introdução: na indústria do petróleo, os trabalhadores atuam em diversas áreas e nas mais adversas condições de trabalho, o que pode resultar em agravos como o estresse ocupacional e o burnout. Objetivo: investigar a associação entre o ambiente de trabalho na indústria do petróleo e o estresse ocupacional e burnout nos trabalhadores, assim como, fatores psicossociais e sintomas físicos associados. Métodos: revisão sistemática de literatura realizada em nove bases de dados bibliográficos. Incluíram-se estudos epidemiológicos observacionais em inglês, espanhol e português publicados entre 1994 e 2014, com pontuação acima de 13 pontos, segundo critérios do Checklist for measuring quality. Resultados: a maioria dos estudos selecionados foi acerca da identificação de fontes de estresse ocupacionais associados a alguns fatores psicossociais. Conclusão: os profissionais da indústria de petróleo estão submetidos a inúmeros estressores ocupacionais que influenciam os aspectos físicos, psíquicos e sociais de sua saúde. O aprofundamento da temática pode estimular o desenvolvimento de estratégias que promovam melhor qualidade de vida e condições de trabalho a esses profissionais.
Abstract Introduction: workers in the petroleum industry perform roles in a variety of areas and work in some of the most adverse working conditions, which may result in adverse effects, such as occupational stress and burnout. Objective: to investigate the association between work environment within the petroleum industry and occupational stress/burnout in its workers, along with psychosocial factors in these workers with their associated physical symptoms. Methods: systematic literature review conducted using nine bibliographic databases. Articles included in the review were observational epidemiological studies written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese published between 1994 and 2014, with scores above 13 points, referring to the criteria from the Checklist for Measuring Quality. Results: the theme of most of the selected studies was regarding identifying the sources of occupational stress that are associated with psychosocial factors. Conclusion: workers from the petroleum industry are subjected to many occupational stress factors that have an influence on the physical, psychological and social aspects of their health. Further investigation of this theme can stimulate the development of strategies able to promote a better quality of life and improved working conditions for professionals in this sector.
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INTRODUCCIÓN: La adopción de sistemas para la gestión de la salud y seguridad en el trabajo trata de responder a las demandas y presiones de los entes regulatorios, empleadores y trabajadores para garantizar un ambiente de trabajo seguro previniendo los accidentes y reduciendo el número de lesionados. OBJETIVO: analizar el impacto en la accidentalidad laboral que tiene la implementación de un sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo bajo el estándar OHSAS 18001. MÉTODO: se recopilaron los datos de la accidentalidad de cuatro empresas del sector petroquímico, tres años antes y después de la certificación en la norma OHSAS, y se realizó una revisión documental y una entrevista al responsable de seguridad y salud en el trabajo para observar el grado de evolución del sistema de gestión a partir de seis elementos: política, identificación de peligros, objetivos y programas, control operacional, medición del desempeño e investigación de accidentes. RESULTADOS: en relación con los índices de frecuencia, severidad y lesiones incapacitantes de los accidentes, de las cuatro empresas analizadas, no presentan una tendencia clara de disminución en los tres años posteriores a la certificación. Sin embargo, el reporte de observaciones si aumentó en tres de las empresas estudiadas. CONCLUSIÓN: En general, se evidenció que la evolución del sistema de gestión se ha dado como resultado de los cambios en la normatividad legal y no hay una tendencia clara frente a la disminución de la severidad y frecuencias de los accidentes.
INTRODUCTION: The adoption of occupational health and safety management systems is a response to the demands and pressures of regulatory agencies, employers and workers to guarantee a safe work environment free that prevents accidents and reduces the number of people injured. Given Colombian companies' tendency to seek certification in those systems, particularly under the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard. OBJECTIVE: Goal was defined of analyzing the impact on workplace accidents of implementing an occupational health and safety management system under the OHSAS 18001 standard. METHOD: all the data on workplace accidents was compiled, with ratios of severity, frequency and disabling injury of petrochemical companies three years before and after their OHSAS standard certification. Overall, we found that the progress of the management system has come about as the result of changes in the country's standards, and not so much as a product of continuous improvement processes according to the system's performance results. RESULTS: In relation to accidents rates of frequency, severity and disability injuries, four companies analyzed do not show a clear downward trend in the three years following certification. However, if the report of observations increased in three of the companies studied. CONCLUSION: we did not find a clear trend toward a decrease in the severity nor the frequency of accidents. However, there has been improvement in terms of observations of unsafe conditions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Accidents, Occupational/prevention & control , Accidents, Occupational/statistics & numerical data , Occupational Health , Safety Management , Oil and Gas Industry , Workplace , ColombiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The level of benzene exposure in the petrochemical industry during regular operation has been well established, but not in turnaround (TA), where high exposure may occur. In this study, the characteristics of occupational exposure to benzene during TA in the petrochemical companies were investigated in order to determine the best management strategies and improve the working environment. This was accomplished by evaluating the exposure level for the workers working in environments where benzene was being produced or used as an ingredient during the unit process. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, a total of 705 workers in three petrochemical companies in Korea were studied. Long- and short-term (< 1 hr) samples were taken during TAs. TA was classified into three stages: shut-down, maintenance and start-up. All works were classified into 12 occupation categories. RESULTS: The long-term geometric mean (GM) benzene exposure level was 0.025 (5.82) ppm (0.005-42.120 ppm) and the short-term exposure concentration during TA was 0.020 (17.42) ppm (0.005-61.855 ppm). The proportions of TA samples exceeding the time-weighted average, occupational exposure level (TWA-OEL in Korea, 1 ppm) and the short-term exposure limit (STEL-OEL, 5 ppm) were 4.1% (20 samples of 488) and 6.0% (13 samples of 217), respectively. The results for the benzene exposure levels and the rates of exceeding the OEL were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). Among the 12 job categories of petrochemical workers, mechanical engineers, plumbers, welders, fieldman and scaffolding workers exhibited long-term samples that exceeded the OEL of benzene, and the rate of exceeding the OEL was statistically significant for the first two occupations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the periodic work environment must be assessed during non-routine works such as TA.
Subject(s)
Benzene , Korea , Occupational Exposure , Occupations , Threshold Limit ValuesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The level of benzene exposure in the petrochemical industry during regular operation has been well established, but not in turnaround (TA), where high exposure may occur. In this study, the characteristics of occupational exposure to benzene during TA in the petrochemical companies were investigated in order to determine the best management strategies and improve the working environment. This was accomplished by evaluating the exposure level for the workers working in environments where benzene was being produced or used as an ingredient during the unit process. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, a total of 705 workers in three petrochemical companies in Korea were studied. Long- and short-term (< 1 hr) samples were taken during TAs. TA was classified into three stages: shut-down, maintenance and start-up. All works were classified into 12 occupation categories. RESULTS: The long-term geometric mean (GM) benzene exposure level was 0.025 (5.82) ppm (0.005-42.120 ppm) and the short-term exposure concentration during TA was 0.020 (17.42) ppm (0.005-61.855 ppm). The proportions of TA samples exceeding the time-weighted average, occupational exposure level (TWA-OEL in Korea, 1 ppm) and the short-term exposure limit (STEL-OEL, 5 ppm) were 4.1% (20 samples of 488) and 6.0% (13 samples of 217), respectively. The results for the benzene exposure levels and the rates of exceeding the OEL were both statistically significant (p < 0.05). Among the 12 job categories of petrochemical workers, mechanical engineers, plumbers, welders, fieldman and scaffolding workers exhibited long-term samples that exceeded the OEL of benzene, and the rate of exceeding the OEL was statistically significant for the first two occupations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the periodic work environment must be assessed during non-routine works such as TA.
Subject(s)
Benzene , Korea , Occupational Exposure , Occupations , Threshold Limit ValuesABSTRACT
No universo dos trabalhadores de uma indústria petroquímica de Camaçari, Bahia - Brasil, foi realizado estudo de corte transversal, para medida da associação entre práticas alimentares e perfil lipídico indesejável. Os dados sobre hábitos alimentares e atividade física foram obtidos por questionário semi-estruturado e os dados secundários, clínico-laboratoriais e dietéticos, a partir da ficha clínica padronizada e da ficha do cardápio diário. Para análise, foram usadas as Prevalências (P), Intervalos de Confiança a 95% (IC 95%), Razões de Prevalência (RP) e regressão logística. A quota energética média, consumida diariamente, numa única refeição, na indústria, independentemente do turno de trabalho, correspondeu a 96,1% da quota energética, total, média diária, dos trabalhadores. A prevalência das práticas alimentares mais lipídicas foi de 63,9%, IC (53,6; 74,2); de colesterol total indesejável de 49,4%, IC (38,6; 60,2) e a da não participação no Programa de Qualidade de Vida, de 60,2%, IC (49,7; 70,7). A RP entre práticas alimentares e perfil lipídico indesejável, de 1,43, IC (1,02; 2,01), com p < 0,05.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the association between eating habits and undesirable lipidic profiles in the universe of petrochemical workers (n = 83) in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. The data concerning eating habits and physical activities were obtained using semi-structured questionnaires, while the secondary data, i.e. the clinical and laboratorial data were obtained using standardized clinical data registration forms and the daily menu records. Analysis input elements consisted of: Prevalences (P); Confidence Intervals up to 95% (IC 95%); Prevalence Quotient (RP) and Logistical Regressions. The average energetic quota ingested per day in a single meal within the industrial plant, independent of the work shift corresponded to 96.1% of the total average energetic quota for the workers. The prevalence of more lipidic eating habits was 63.9%, IC (53.6; 74.2); undesirable cholesterol 49.4%, IC (38.6; 60.2) and non-participation in the Quality of Life Program was 60.2% (IC (49,7; 70,7). The Prevalence Quotient (RP) between eating habits and undesirable lipid profile was 1.43, IC (1.02; 2.01), with p < 0.05.