Abstract

CHACIN-ALMARZA, Betulio et al. Organizational Stress and Exposure to Noise in Workers at the Packing Plant of a Brewering Industry. Invest. clín [online]. 2002, vol.43, n.4, pp.271-289. ISSN 0535-5133.

The purpose of this study was to identify and to evaluate the psychosocial factors that produce organizational stress in workers at the packing plant of a brewering industry, and to determine the influence of industrial noise in the occurrence of stress at work. The Questionnaire of Organizational Stress of the ILO/WHO was applied to 163 workers to evaluate psychosocial factors at work, and the socio-demographic characteristics were explored on an individual basis. The equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) was determined and the octave band were determined with a sonometer according to the COVENIN guidelines. Total stress was found in 55 workers (33,74%). Of those, 42 workers were in an intermediate level (25,76%) and 13 workers (7,98%) were in the stress level (p < 0,0001). The occurrence of pondered stress was 100%, classified as: influences of the leader (14,00 ± 7,27; 87,7%), organizational structures (12,36 ± 5,14; 93,3%) and organizational climate (11,83 ± 5,09; 95,1%). The mean of total and pondered stress showed an upward tendency as age and labor antiquity increased (p < 0,05). Leq was in a range of 87,9-100 dB(A), which exceds the threshold value limit. There was no association between Leq was stress. The level of total stress that these workers perceive is similar to that described in other studies. The pondered stress becomes a highly sensitive variable to determine which psychosocial factors produce stress. This can be used for implementing control and preventive measures of organizational stress.

Keywords : Organizational stress; noise; brewering industry.