Neck musculoskeletal disorders and their influence factors among welders in an automobile factory / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of neck musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) of welders among an automobile factory. Methods: In June 2019, a cluster random sampling method was used to select 677 electric welders from an automobile manufacturing plant in Shiyan City as the survey objects, and a questionnaire survey was conducted using the "Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire" to analyze the prevalence and influencing factors of neck MSDs, and used logistic regression to analyze the relationship between the influencing factors and the prevalence of cervical MSDs. Results: The prevalence rate of MSDs in neck of welders was 54.8% (371/677) . The exposure rate of occupational factors, from high to low, were neckin a bent formord porsure was 71.6% (486/677) , repetitive head movements was 55.1% (373/677) , working in uncomfortable postures was 48.7% (330/677) and neck twisted was 46.8% (317/677) respectively. Sex, age, educational level, length of service, smoking, neck tilt, neck twist, working in uncomfortable posture and head repetitive movements were the risk factors of neck MSDs (P<0.05) . Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, the main influencing factors of neck MSDs were sex, education level, age, length of service, smoking, neck tilt, working in uncomfortable posture (OR = 2.11, 2.03, 1.83, 1.21, 1.78, 1.90, 1.58, 95%CI: 1.28~3.48、1.47~2.81、1.33~2.52、1.03~1.41、1.22~2.60、1.28~2.83、1.11~2.27, P<0.05) , rest had protective effect on neck MSDs (OR= 0.38, 95%CI: 0.17~0.88, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Welders in automobile factory was highly exposed to occupational risk factors for neck MSDs. Occupational risk factors such as neck in a bent forward posture, working in an uncomfortable posture, prolonged siting, repetitive head movement should be the focus of intervention.

Violências contra trabalhadores adoecidos e instrumentos de gestão: uma relação a explorar / Violences against sick workers and management tools: a relationship to explore

Trata-se de estudo realizado por demanda de um sindicato de trabalhadores metalúrgicos à Fundacentro, objetivando analisar as situações de violências vividas por trabalhadores adoecidos pelo trabalho em uma montadora de automóveis. Foram realizadas entrevistas com sindicalistas, visita à montadora, entrevistas individuais e coletivas com trabalhadores, validação dos dados. À luz da discussão sobre violências relacionadas ao trabalho e intensificação do trabalho, analisou-se sua relação com instrumentos de gestão. Com base na compreensão de gestão de Gaulejac e na perspectiva das evoluções conceituais sobre violência no trabalho, expressada por Soboll, entre outros, confirmaram-se práticas de exclusão e isolamento de trabalhadores adoecidos, humilhações e descaracterização das doenças relacionadas ao trabalho, deslegitimando e colocando os adoecidos sob suspeita. Instrumentos de gestão e elementos da cultura organizacional eram utilizados nestas práticas violentas caracterizando um modo de agir sistêmico que contribui para a cronificação de doenças e a geração de incapacidade, além de prejudicarem ações preventivas, tanto da própria empresa, como do Estado, pela ocultação de riscos e danos. Demandas dessa natureza são frequentes, evidenciando que a violência contra adoecidos pelo trabalho e o ocultamento de doenças do trabalho constituem sério problema social com impacto dramático nas vidas de trabalhadores e no sistema de saúde pública

This study was carried out by Fundacentro at the request of a metalworkers' union, aiming to characterize and analyze the situations of violence experienced by workers who had work-related injuries or illnesses, in an automobile assembly plant. Interviews with trade unionists, a visit to the automaker, individual and collective interviews with workers and validation of the data were carried out. It was based on the Gaulejac's management concept and the Soboll's violence at work concept. The exclusion and isolation of sick workers, humiliation, denial and de-characterization of work-related illnesses were confirmed, delegitimizing and placing the workers under suspicion. Management tools and elements of organizational culture were used in these violent practices, characterizing a systemic way of acting, which contributes to these diseases becoming chronic and generating incapacity, as well as impairing preventive actions, of both the company itself and the State, by concealment of risks and damages. Demands of this nature are frequent, evidencing that the violence against people with work-related illnesses and the concealment of such illnesses constitute an important social problem, with a dramatic impacts on the lives of workers and the public health system.

"Nunca pensei sobre isso!": vivências de trabalho na indústria metalmecânica / "I have never thought about it!": work experiences in metalworking industries

É de fundamental importância entender as relações existentes entre o trabalho e os processos de saúde/doença mental, visando ao desenvolvimento de ações de prevenção e promoção da saúde do trabalhador. Diante da escassez de estudos que privilegiem esse aspecto entre os trabalhadores que atuam na indústria metalmecânica no Brasil, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de analisar as vivências de trabalho de profissionais inseridos no contexto metalmecânico para compreender a dinâmica saúde/doença mental no trabalho. Através de um delineamento exploratório-descritivo, a pesquisa foi orientada teoricamente pela Psicodinâmica do Trabalho. Foram entrevistados individualmente oito trabalhadores da indústria metalmecânica da região de Caxias do Sul (RS), com idades entre 20 e 54 anos. Como instrumentos de coleta de dados foram utilizados um questionário sociodemográfico e entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram examinados por análise de conteúdo. Os resultados apontaram claramente para o intenso processo de sofrimento e para o grande risco de adoecimento dos trabalhadores entrevistados, evidenciando a necessidade de problematizar e repensar as relações e a configuração do trabalho metalmecânico.

It is essential to understand the existing relations between labor and mental health/disease processes, considering the development of preventive actions and promotion of the employees' health. Due to the lack of studies focusing in this aspect among employees from metalworking industries in Brazil, this study aims to analyze the work experiences of professionals who are part of the metalworking context, aiming at understanding the mental health/disease dynamic at work. Through an exploratory-descriptive design, the research was theoretically oriented by the Psychodynamics of Work. Eight employees (ranging from 20 to 54 years old) from the metalworking industry in Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), were individually interviewed. A social-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used as data gathering instruments. Data were analyzed through content analysis. Results clearly implied the existence of an intense suffering process and a considerable risk of illness in the interviewed employees, which demonstrated the need to problematize and rethink the relations and the configuration of the metalworking work.