Gestão de biossegurança e de segurança do trabalho em áreas de risco: um estudo de caso no Campus Central da UFRN

Abstract

The study aimed to analyse the management of biosecurity at the central campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. In this sense, the main risk factors to which medium to high-level technicians who work in unhealthy and dangerous areas are exposed; the main actions for the promotion of safety in these areas and, the perception of the federal employees about the management of biosafety and health and safety programs of the institution were investigated. It was intended to understand, from a more refined look on labour activities, how the biosecurity is being contemplated for managing security policies in dangerous and unhealthy areas. The participants were managers involved in UFRN biosecurity programs and other active public employees who work in this university central campus of UFRN risk areas, developing unhealthy and hazardous activities. The research undertaken was characterized as a multi-method exploratory study. During the research, it was decided to use mixed method by a combination of features of various investigations. Initially, it carried out a document analysis and interviews on the UFRN Health Care Board, to its coordinators linked to workers’ health and safety. Then, questionnaires involving occupational and psychosocial risks divided into three groups of random and stratified sample were applied, divided into two sub-groups, with a total of 73 workers involved in unhealthy activities and a group of 74 workers that developed hazardous activities. Taking as reference the centres considered most at risk (Bioscience), the results show that 84% of the servers are not aware of the management system on biosafety and that in 60% of cases, biosafety issues are not addressed. It was also noted that 58% of servers do not have knowledge if there are a Biosafety Commission and a training policy for continuing education or an action plan for the same. It concludes that the risk factors found in work environments point to the need of integrate the various sectors involved in the management system and greater investment by directors, coordinators and managers to seek the systematization of biosafety management. The results of this study will help to subsidize actions in occupational health and safety, in order to cooperate for the promotion of conditions of work, health and well-being of the public employees.