Identificação dos riscos ambientais decorrentes da atividade laboral de catadores de material reciclável em uma cooperativa do Oeste do Paraná

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the health and safety conditions in the work of associates of a garbage cooperative in the west of Paraná that are exposed. The risk assessment was carried out within the cooperative, giving focus to the workplace that was in the worst conditions for the work activity: the garbage baler. In the baler press, there were several risks to the occupational health of the operators that work in it, identifying layout risks, lack of lighting, biological risks, risk of accidents with sharps and the most serious of all, the risk of accidents due to lack of protection in the machine. Following the risk assessment proposed by Mendonça (2013), it was necessary to carry out a series of steps to quantify and prioritize the risks encountered. Making necessary for the application of the methodology of risk assessment, the application of check list of conformity in the job chosen. The check list was intended to answer questions about the exposure time, the number of employees exposed and the severity with which these risks impact on the health and safety of the worker. The study observed serious risks to the health of the workers that operate in it, being able to have permanent injuries. The risk assessment indicated the high intervention levels, ie the risks with the highest priority of correction, for the risk of lack of protection of the machine. It does not have interlocking devices, offering the possibility of worker contact with moving parts of the machine, which can cause serious work accidents. Thus, the results found from the risk assessment identified an urgent need for correction in the press, since it does not have security protection.