Resumo

ROJAS VAZQUEZ, Evelyn Ivette et al. Prevention and identification of chemical originated risks in workcenters in Santiago, Cuba. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2006, vol.14, n.1, pp.71-75. ISSN 1315-0138.

In the TOXMED Occupational Health Service, we sought to identify current chemical risks and analyze their association with work conditions in 11 work centers. Information was obtained on the chemical composition of the substances, their uses, associated hazards and toxicities, duration of exposure, direct and indirect exposures to the chemical substances, use of personal protective equipment, occupational hygiene measures, the presence of natural or artificial ventilation and other technical characteristics of the productive process. The most common chemicals were hydrocarbons, metals, acids, and alkalis; there was evidence of widespread incorrect use of petroleum derivatives. Carcinogenic substances, inhalation hazards, corrosives, irritants, oxidizers, flammable compounds and a mutagen were identified. Regarding work conditions, the absence of personal protective equipment (41.84%) was most commonly reported, followed by non-compliance with occupational hygiene measures (28,57%), and, lastly, inadequate ventilation and emissions of chemical substances (16.32%). This assessment of occupational risk allowed the evaluation of chemical hazards, and a qualitative assessment of potential risk by job, previously not evaluated from a toxicological perspective, as well as compliance with recommended preventive practices to decrease the negative impact of chemical exposures on worker health.

Palavras-chave : chemical risk; toxicity; exposure.