Occupational safety and health practices among flower greenhouses workers from Alto Tietê region (Brazil)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 416; pp. 121 - 126
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Marcela G., Colasso, Camilla G., Monteiro, Paula P., Filho, Walter R. Pedreira, Yonamine, Maurício
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.02.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Agriculture - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Female; Flowers; Greenhouses; guidelines; Humans; labor; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Health - statistics & numerical data; occupational health and safety; OSH practices; pesticide application; Pesticides; Pesticides - adverse effects; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; risk; risk behavior; Toxicology; working conditions; Workplace - standards; Workplace - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; South America; Brazil; America; OSH practices; Occupational exposure; Greenhouses; Pesticides; Human; Agricultural chemical product; Horticulture; Occupational hygiene; Chemical pollution; Work safety; Health and environment; Worker; Greenhouse; Occupational medicine; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.11.002

In this preliminary study the occupational safety and health practices among flower greenhouses workers were evaluated. The study was carried out in the alto Tietê region, located at the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Inadequate welfare facilities; poor pesticide storage, use and disposal conditions; use of highly toxic pesticides; lack of adequate data regarding pesticide use; and incorrect use and maintenance of PPE were observed in most of the visited greenhouses. These results suggest that, in greenhouses, workers may be at higher risk of pesticide exposure, due to many factors that can intensify the exposure such as the lack of control on reentry intervals after pesticide application. Specific regulations are needed to ensure better OSH practices on pesticide use and to improve working conditions in greenhouses, in order to deal with the peculiarities of greenhouse working environment. Some of the special requirements for greenhouses workers' protection are the establishment of ventilation criteria for restricted entry interval; clear reentry restrictions; and EPI for workers other than applicators that need to enter the greenhouse before expiring REI interval. Another important way to improve OSH practices among workers includes the distribution of simple guidelines on the dos and don'ts regarding OSH practices in greenhouses and extensively training interventions to change the perception of hazards and the behavior towards risk. ► Occupational safety and health practices among flower greenhouses workers were evaluated. ► Lack of clear reentry restrictions can intensify the exposure in greenhouses. ► Specific regulations dealing with the peculiarities of greenhouse working environment are needed. ► Distribution of simple guidelines relying on greenhouse working can improve OSH practices. ► Training interventions are important to change the workers' perception of hazards and behavior towards risk.