Risk perception and personal protective equipment use by rural workers

MOLINERI, A.I.; SIGNORINI, M.L.; TARABLA, H.D.

Córdoba

Jornada; VIII Jornadas Internacionales de Salud Pública; 2012

Escuela de Salud Pública

Most of rural accidents could be prevented if workers use protective equipment. The frequency of personal protective equipment use should be associated to the risk perception of rural tags. The objective was to assess the risk perception of rural work and the use of personal protective equipment. On April 2012 a census was conducted in rural workers from Egusquiza, Santa Fe was made (N=109). Cross sectional study based on a structured questionnaire made by personal interviews. Response rate: 86.23% (n= 94). Statistical analysis was bivariate. Activities perceived as more risky were agrochemicals manipulation and in itinere traffic. Nevertheless, the 82.7% doesn´t use waterproof clothing to manipulate agrochemicals. The 71.6% of respondents considered of high or medium risk to do noisy tasks but only the 40.3% use hearing protection. Gloves are more used to manipulate abortion (53.6%) than in others tasks. Safety belts are used on route and city by more than 90% of workers. Low-light at day driving is used on route by 97.4% of respondents and on rural roads by the 70%. The 86.2% had never received rural work´s risk training. Although rural work implies to assume labor risks the perception of them seems to be insufficient. Personal protective equipment used was independent of risk perception showing the lack of importance given to the subject and the need of training that rural worker have.