Evalution of ergonomic and physical risk factors in forest sector activities
Name: MARLICE PAES LEME VIEIRA
Publication date: 26/02/2021
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| WANDERSON LYRIO BERMUDES | External Examiner * |
Summary: The forestry sector is composed of several activities and is responsible for supplying various products, be they wood or non-wood, thus generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs per year. The rapid growth of the sector associated with new technologies may contribute to the emergence of work-related illnesses. With this, the present research had as object the evaluation of the ergonomic and physical risk factors in different activities of the forestry sector. For this, we used the database of outsourced companies located in the district of Monte Dourado, municipality of Almeirim PA. The sample population was composed of 119 workers. Ergonomic risks were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Couto's simplified check-list (2014), Moore and Garg's method (1995), and the REBA method. As for physical agents, occupational exposure to noise and localized and whole body vibrations was evaluated. The study pointed out the need to adapt the workers' working conditions, regarding the physical aspects of the job, the characteristics of the tools, the organization of working time, such as working hours and breaks, among others, aiming at reducing the risks of occupational diseases. As for physical agents, it was observed that activities with the use of chainsaws are the ones that most expose workers to occupational risks, showing an average of 92.4 dB (A) over the working day. In addition, the vibration of the hand and arms, although it was below the tolerance limit, was above the action level, requiring the adoption of preventive and corrective measures.
Keywords: Forestry techniques and operations, Health and safety, Ergonomics, Occupational noise exposure, Occupational exposure to vibration.
