Acidentes com material biológico em trabalhadores de enfermagem do Hospital Geral de Palmas (TO) / Work-related accidents with biological material among nursing staff from General Hospital in Palmas, state of Tocantins, Brazil

RESUMO

Objetivo: identificar os acidentes de trabalho com material biológico ocorridoscom os trabalhadores de enfermagem do Hospital Geral de Palmas (HGP) e verificara ocorrência de subnotificação no Serviço de Segurança do Trabalho (SST) doHGP. Método: estudo descritivo transversal, com dados coletados por meio de umquestionário autoaplicável que foi respondido por 389 profissionais de enfermagem(91% do efetivo) nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2007. Resultados: dentreos profissionais de enfermagem, 178 (45,7%) declararam já ter sofrido acidentecom material biológico (55,6% por acidente perfurocortante e 44,4% com fluidos),sendo 106 (59,9%) técnicos de enfermagem, 57 (32%) auxiliares de enfermageme 15 (8,4%) enfermeiros. Considerando todos os profissionais de enfermagem(n=389), com ou sem antecedente de acidente, os auxiliares constituíram o grupomais exposto aos riscos de acidentes (54,3%), seguidos pelos técnicos (49,8%)e pelos enfermeiros (21,1%). Dos 178 profissionais que sofreram acidentes, 95(53,3%) trabalhavam de 1 a 5 anos e 39 (21,9%) há mais de 10 anos. Dentre os 178profissionais acidentados, apenas 64 registraram o acidente no SST, resultandoem 64% de subnotificação. Conclusão: estes resultados evidenciam a necessidadede reformulação do protocolo de encaminhamento para o atendimento ao acidentadoe a participação efetiva dos profissionais de enfermagem nessa reformulação.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To identify work-related accidents with biological material among the nursing staff of General Hospital of Palmas (HGP) in Tocantins state, Brazil, andto assess underreporting in its Worker?s Safety and Health Service (SST). Method:Descriptive cross-sectional study that used a self-reported questionnaire answered by 91% of the nursing staff (389 nurses) between August and September 2007.Results: One hundred and seventy eight (45.7%) nurses reported accidental exposure to biological material, caused by puncture or lacerating objects (55.6%) and by fluids (44.4%). One hundred and six (59.9%) of them were nursing assistants, 57 (32%) were healthcare assistants, and 15 (8.4%) were nurses.Considering the whole nursing staff (n = 389), including both who had and who did not have accidents, healthcare assistants were the ones who most frequently suffered such accidents (54.3%), followed by the nursing assistants (49.8%) and nurses (21.1%). Among 178 professionals accidentally exposed to biological material, 95 (53.3%) had worked between one to five years in the hospital, while39 (21.9%), for more than 10 years. Out of 178, only 64 accidents were recorded at the SST, resulting in 64% of underreporting. Conclusion: these findings indicated the need to reformulate the procedures for reporting and assisting the injured workers, with the effective participation of nursing staff in this reformulation.Keywords occupational injuries; nursing staff; accidental puncture and laceration.