RESUMO
@#Introduction: The use of chemicals in teaching laboratories exposes students and laboratory staff to risk arising from hazardous chemicals. Accidents related to poor management and handling of chemicals have been reported in teaching laboratories. Good implementation of occupational safety and health (OSH) in organisation that has implemented OSH-Management System (OSH-MS) plays an important role in reducing accidents at the workplace. The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to the OSH aspect in chemical handling among workers in OSH-MS certified and non-certified public universities in Malaysia. Method: This is a cross-sectional survey involving laboratory workers in four public universities in Malaysia. A total of 120 laboratory staff were recruited and data on KAP was collected using self-administered questionnaires disseminated physically and via online platforms. Items in the questionnaire were adapted from previous studies and published guidelines. Data obtained were entered into statistical software for analysis. Results: About 76% of workers in certified universities have high knowledge, 94% have a positive attitude, and 88% have good practice in OSH. In non-certified universities, 70% have high knowledge, 97.1% have a positive attitude and 81.4% have good practice in OSH. Good practice level was significantly higher in certified universities. Knowledge, in general, was associated with younger age and higher education level while attitude was linked to gender. Conclusion: There were higher percentages of good OSH practice among laboratory workers in OSH-MS certified universities. Structured and systematic OSH governance can facilitate better OSH practice and implementation in certified public universities.
RESUMO
Construir ações relacionadas à saúde e segurança nas Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PME) não é tarefa fácil, uma vez que essas empresas precisam lidar com o provimento deficitário de informações, poucos recursos disponíveis e metodologias de ação desenvolvidas de acordo com as características das empresas de grande porte. Partindo de estudos de caso e de metodologia qualitativa, o presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar, em três PME do setor industrial, a maneira como ações de saúde e segurança são conduzidas inclusive ações ergonômicas, bem como as justificativas para sua forma de condução,utilizando, para tanto, entrevistas e questionários. A investigação comprovou que aspectos, tais como poucos recursos financeiros, pouco acesso à informação, cultura e o modelo gerencial assumido, exercem grande influência sobre a forma como as ações em Saúde e Segurança do Trabalho (SST) serão conduzidas, sendo que a Ergonomia, quando houver, será caracterizada pela condução perceptiva e informal das mudanças no local de trabalho. Concluiu-se que algumas normas e leis, assim como ferramentas ergonômicas, deveriam ser desenvolvidas e adaptadas às PME. Moldar as ações segundo as necessidades e limitações de cada empresa poderia facilitar sua utilização e assim promover uma melhora das condições de saúde e segurança nas PME.
Building actions related to health and safety in small and medium sizeenterprises (SME) is not an easy task, since these companies need to face lack of information, short availability of resources and methodologies developed for the characteristics of a big company. Based on case study techniques and a qualitative approach, the present study aims at investigating, through interviews and questionnaires, not only the way health and safety interventions including ergonomics - are carried on in three industrial sector SMEs, but also the reasons for their being conducted that way. This investigation led us to conclude that short resource availability, difficulty in accessing information, the company phylosophy and managerial model, greatly influence the way Health and Safety (OSH) actions are conducted in small companies; and changes on work place, if Ergonomics is considered, will be guided by perception and based on informality. The authors conclude that laws, regulations and ergonomic tools to fit SMEs should be created. Adapting these actions accordingly to the needs and limitations of each company would probably make them easier to be followed and, as a consequence, would improve health and safety at SMEs.