Avaliação de riscos de acidentes ocupacionais na usina de triagem e compostagem de resíduos sólidos em Turvolândia MG

Abstract

Brazil is among the six countries with the highest indices of fatal occupational accidents. One of the social rights of Brazilian workers, established in the 1988 Constitution, is the right to the reduction of work accident risks by virtue of health, hygiene and security norms. So, it is necessary to know the environmental risks of the various workplaces with the purpose of guaranteeing the most fundamental human right the right to life. This paper analyzes the occupational risks of the employees of a waste and composting plant in Turvolândia, a town of 4,608 inhabitants in the south of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from August 2008 to August 2009. Analyses of residues handled in the selection site determined the chemical composition of the organic matter and the possible microbiological risks of the samples. The gravimetric characteristics of the material was assessed by separating paper and cardboard, metal, plastic, glass, organic matter and refuse. The levels of noise, illumination, humidity and temperature were measured in the work setting. The workers use of PPE (personal protection equipment) and posture adequation were observed during work. The physical arrangement of the facilities, and the protective and conservative conditions of the equipment were analyzed concerning mechanical risks, and likewise the storing conditions of the processed material and of the security system against fire. The qualification and quantification of occupational risks were done by means of check lists, with technical parameters, tables and calculations, according with Iida (2006), NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health USA), the Regulatory Norms (NRs) of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, and the Ergonomic Analysis of Labor . It was found out that the Sorting and Composting Plant did not meet labor norms, being classified as environmental risk of level 3 , according with the National Classification of Economic Activities established by NR-4, what means high risk of the workers contamination by chemical and biological agents, in addition to their exposure to ergonomic, mechanical and physical risks. It was also noted that the workers did not use the PPE recommended for the type of work they were doing, according with the Ministry of Labor and Employment regulatory rules for labor safety. As a result of the analyses, a Risk Map of the business was drawn, based on the appendix IV of the NR-5, identifying the different production sectors. The Risk Map was made available as a contribution to the programs for occupational accident reduction in that workplace under the responsibility of the municipal public power.