Absenteeism study in a steel industry of São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Aim: To identify the factors involved in absenteeism in a steel industry in the city of São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethics Committee in a steel industry. Worker's detailed information regarding absenteeism was obtained from the Health Department files, from January 2005 to December 2008. Specifical data were sex, function, certificate type (medical or dental), the working sector, according to the Large Groups (LG) of Brazilian Classification of Occupations - 2002, working periods, duration of absenteeism (lost days), the main causes of absenteeism (International Classification of Diseases ICD-10). Results: A total of 570 workers were recorded. The majority of workers were males (97%), with medical certificate (97%), LG-7 workers in the production of industrial goods and services (62.09%), and operators of industrial machinery (68.3%) and the working period was Shift 4 - Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 am and 1 pm to 5 pm (44.43 %). The total duration of absenteeism was 3,187 days, the main causes of diseases being problemas in the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (18.48%), respiratory diseases (17.11%), injuries, poisoning and other external causes (11.24%), and diseases of the digestive tract (11.24%). Conclusions: It was concluded that there was under-reporting of absenteeism due to dental causes (41 events) during the study period. More studies in this field are required (Au)