As condições de trabalho dos garis de varrição de ruas / The work conditions of the street-sweepers / Las condiciones de trabajo de los barrenderos de calles

O artigo relata pesquisa realizada, numa perspectiva psicossociológica, com os garis de varrição do hipercentro de Belo Horizonte. Objetivou descrever as condições de trabalho no contexto das gestões da autarquia municipal, considerando-se quatro categorias de condições de trabalho: condições contratuais e jurídicas, condições físicas e materiais, processos e características da atividade e ambiente sociogerencial. As atividades de campo foram: aplicação do Questionário de Condições de Trabalho (QCT), entrevistas semiestruturadas e observações. Os resultados indicaram, entre outros aspectos, condições físicas e materiais problemáticas e a relevância da autonomia (nas tarefas) e a permanência nos trechos para execução da atividade. As relações entre trabalhadores e organização apontam a necessidade de promover a participação dos trabalhadores na autarquia e na gestão da atividade, valorizando as experiências dos garis, a fim de garantir qualidade crescente, beneficiando a limpeza pública e a cidade. Entretanto, a organização empregadora não se demonstrou sensível a esses aspectos

The article reports a research developed, from a psychosociological perspective, with street-sweepers in the hypercenter of Belo Horizonte. It describes the work conditions in the managerial context of the governmental institution, and considered four categories: contractual and legal conditions, physical and material conditions, process and characteristics of activity, and social-managerial environment. The activities of field consisted of the application of Work Condition Questionnaire (WCQ) and semi-structured interviews, and observations. Among the results, the research showed problematic physical and material conditions, relevance of autonomy (in the tasks) and permanency in the work stretches for implementation of the activity. The relationship between workers and organization pointed out the need to promote workers' participation in the institution and management of the activity in order to value workers' experiences and to achieve a better quality in the public cleanliness in the city. However, the employer does not reveal itself sensitive to these aspects

El artículo relata una investigación, en perspectiva psicosociológica, llevada a cabo con los barrenderos que trabajan en el hipercentro de Belo Horizonte. Su objetivo fue describir las condiciones de trabajo en el contexto de las gestiones de la autoridad local, considerando cuatro categorías de condiciones de trabajo: contractuales y legales, físicas y materiales, procesos y características de la actividad, y entorno sociogerencial. Las actividades de campo fueron: aplicación de Cuestionario de Condiciones de Trabajo (CCT), entrevistas semi-estructuradas y observaciones. Entre los resultados, la investigación encontró condiciones físicas y materiales problemáticas, relevancia de la autonomía (en las tareas) y permanencia en los locales de trabajo para la realización de la actividad. La relación entre empleados y organización muestra necesidad de que estos participen de la gestión de la organización y de la actividad, valorando sus experiencias, en beneficio de una limpieza pública de mayor calidad y de la ciudad. La organización empleadora no se mostró sensible a esos aspectos

Sweeping practices, perceptions and knowledge about occupational safety and health hazards of street sweepers in Dhaka city, Bangladesh: a qualitative inquiry.

Background: Street sweepers play important roles for keeping the cities clean. Their works entail removing of debris from streets, collecting solid waste, disposing and recycling waste material. Consequently, they have higher chances to be exposed to numerous risk factors; therefore, their occupational safety and health hazard became crucial. There is little evidence about the sweeping practices, perceptions and knowledge on their occupational safety and health hazards. The objective of the study is to explore current sweeping practices, perceived risk and the level of knowledge of a group of street sweepers of Dhaka city. Methods: An explorative qualitative research design was used. We conducted 15 IDIs, 8 KIIs and 5 FGDs with Telegu street sweepers, community and religious leaders and NGO workers in two different sweeper colonies in Dhaka City. Results: Due to the manual handling process, the street sweepers are often exposed to a variety of risks factors – exhaust fumes, extreme noise, toxic substances and dust particles. Frequent infections and injuries were reported commonly as they lack basic safety equipment’s during works. Low perceived health hazards were prevalent. Strong faith-based explanations were found to rationalize possible health hazards. Conclusions: A number of socio-economic factors influence the level of knowledge and risk perception. Interventions on awareness building program coupled with behaviour change counselling (BCC) activities would be appropriate to address the lack of knowledge on health hazards and low risks perception.

Study of morbidity pattern and occupational hazards in sweepers working at a municipal teaching hospital in Mumbai.

Background: The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that more than 125 million workers are victims of occupational accidents and diseases in a single year. The important morbid conditions detected in the workers include the diseases of the respiratory system and eye, accidents, injuries, cuts and wounds, skin infections, animal bites, etc. Health Care Workers (HCWs) are attributed to the group at highest risk of occupationally acquired blood borne diseases as the result of contact with blood and body fluids. The present study was conducted to assess the morbidity pattern and occupational hazards in the sweepers working at the tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in the various wards of Lokmanya Tilak municipal medical college & general hospital, Mumbai during the period of January 2008 to May 2009. Total 267 sweepers were interviewed. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to get information regarding the morbidity pattern and occupational hazards in the sweepers. Results: Out of 267, history of acute illness was elicited from 64 (23.97%) employees. 52 (19.47%) sweepers had history of chronic illness. Among the sweepers, 160 (59.9%) had some sort of morbidity present. The morbid conditions found in the sweepers were musculoskeletal disorders 55 (20.6%), hypertension 46 (17.2%), gastrointestinal problem 26 (9.7%), eye disorders 23 (8.6%) and respiratory system diseases 21 (7.9%). The present study showed that, 226 (84.6%) sweepers used some form of personal protective devices regularly and 41 (15.4%) didn’t use regularly. 113 (42.3%) sweepers had needle prick or sharp injury. 74 (65.5%) sweepers had single needle prick or sharp injury & 39 (34.5%) sweepers had repeated needle prick or sharp injury. Conclusions: Periodic examination should be done annually & immediate corrective measures should be taken to protect the health of employees at risk. Stress management principles must be implemented in the sweepers to enhance physical and mental health. There is need for safety training programme for all health workers including sweepers in the hospitals.

Impact Of Health Awareness Intervention Among The Women Sweepers Working Under The Midnapore Municipality Of West Bengal, India.

Background: Women sweepers is the vulnerable segment of our community and suffering from different occupational health problems due to limited education, lack of knowledge on occupational health hazards. The present study aimed to assess the awareness level regarding occupational health and personal hygiene and to evaluate the effect of occupational health intervention among the women sweepers. Methods: The study adopted a pre-test and post-test design. A total of 52 women sweepers in the age group of 25 to 60 years were selected randomly from Midnapore Municipality of West Bengal, India. At first, a self-structured questionnaire was prepared on the aspects of general health, occupational health, personal hygiene, environmental health and nutritional aspects. After the pre-awareness assessment an intervention package was delivered covering said domains. Than post testing was done on the participants after the period of intervention. Results: Results demonstrated that there was a considerable increase in the awareness levels among the women sweepers with regard to knowledge of health problems, occupational health. The knowledge of participants regarding personal hygiene improved markedly after imparting the intervention. With regards to preventive approaches of diseases among the women has increased after the intervention. Overall health knowledge increased significantly post-awareness stage than pre-awareness stage (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that occupational health intervention has a positive effect towards the improvement of awareness level among the women sweepers which may change their health habits.

Planejamento para aposentadoria: a visão dos garis / Planning for retirement: from the viewpoint of the street sweepers

O rápido envelhecimento populacional no Brasil trouxe diversos desafios, um dos quais é a necessidade de preparar os trabalhadores mais velhos para a transição do trabalho para a aposentadoria. Existe também uma carência de pesquisas relacionadas ao tema, especialmente acerca dos trabalhadores que atuam na limpeza urbana. Este estudo investigou o planejamento para a aposentadoria dos garis e os aspectos priorizados para seu bem-estar nessa transição. Seis garis, com 45 anos ou mais e que estavam no mínimo a dois anos da aposentadoria participaram de seis encontros. No primeiro, os garis realizaram entrevista semiestruturada e também foram sensibilizados para o tema. Nos quatro encontros seguintes, foram realizados grupos focais, utilizando-se fatores-chave para o bem-estar na aposentadoria. No sexto e último encontro, ainda utilizando a técnica do grupo focal, os participantes avaliaram as condições de trabalho e no quanto poderiam impactar o bem-estar na aposentadoria. A análise dos dados revelou que o relacionamento familiar é o principal preditor de bem-estar na aposentadoria, seguido da promoção da saúde que, está diretamente relacionada às condições de trabalho e precisam ser revistas pelo empregador. Para esses garis, o lazer estava em segundo plano, embora houvesse a expectativa de que na aposentadoria eles teriam mais tempo para o lazer e recursos para viajar. O estudo aponta sugestões para a área de Recursos Humanos, tais como melhorar as condições de trabalho dos garis, reduzir a carga horária para os que estejam próximos da aposentadoria e adotar um programa de preparação para aposentadoria.

The rapid growth of the ageing population in Brazil brought a variety of challenges, one of which is the need to prepare older workers in the transition from work to retirement. There is also a lack of research in this area, especially towards workers who work in urban cleaning. This study investigated retirement planning of street sweepers and aspects prioritized for their well-being during future retirement. Six street sweepers of 45 years or more, who were at least two years from retirement, participated in six meetings. At the first meeting, they were sensibilized to this theme and participated in a semi-structured interview. Following this, four meetings were held with focus groups, using key factors related to well-being during retirement. At the sixth and last meeting, continuing with the focus group, the participants assessed working conditions and how these could impact their own retirement. The data analysis revealed that family relationships are the main predictor for well being during retirement, followed by health, which was directly related to their working conditions and which needed to be addressed by the employer. For these street sweepers, leisure was in second place, but they expected that in retirement years, they would have more time for this and also be able to travel. This study recommends a few measures for implementation by Human Resources, such as improving work conditions, reducing work hours before retirement and implementing a retirement preparation program.