Análisis de las condiciones de trabajo y salud en trabajadores expuestos a material particulado al polvo de madera en una fabrica de muebles.

Abstract

El polvo de madera no controlado, en ebanisterías y carpinterías, genera problemas a la salud respiratoria, como bronquitis, asma, rinitis alérgica, dermatitis de contacto de origen ocupacional, entre otras. Desde el 2006 la línea de investigación de riesgos químicos de la Universidad del Quindío, ha realizado diversos estudios a carpinteros del departamento del Quindío (Colombia). Estos estudios arrojaron que el 90 % de las fábricas de muebles supera el Valor Límite Permisible -TLV- del polvo de madera (1 mg/m3) y no cumplen con las medidas de seguridad industrial. En este sector económico de la región hay 99 empresas formales en la fabricación de muebles de madera con un aproximado de más 2500 trabajadores, sin contar con las empresas de economía informal que se dedican a la carpintería y ebanistería de muebles.

Non controlled wood dust in woodworks and carpentries causes respiratory health troubles like bronchitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, contact dermatitis of occupational origin, among other things. Since 2006 the chemical risk research line of University of Quindío, has performed several studies to carpenters of Quindío Region (Colombia). These studies showed that 90 % of furniture enterprises go beyond the TLV of wood dust (1 mg/ m3) and they don’t meet with industry security rules. at this economic sector in the region there are 99 formal enterprises at making wooden furniture with approximately more than 2500 workers without taking into account the informal economy enterprises that are working at woodwork and carpentry of furniture. The final master degree work performed an epidemiologic surveillance study in a furniture enterprise with 190 workers. A cross-section observational descriptive study was done. A hundred workers were surveyed and worker model surveys and respiratory symptoms were applied, an occupational medical test and spirometries were carried out. Moreover, environmental samples of particulate material were done.