Safety conditions at work related to exposure to mechanical hazards in a logistics company - Bogotá 2013

Abstract

Introduction: In a logistics company, mechanical hazards related to the use of machines and tools that could cause work accidents are evident. Objective: To characterize and evaluate the work safety conditions related to the machines and tools handling, manual movement of objects and mechanical movement of materials. Materials and methods: Qualitative descriptive cross-sectional study. An international company based in Bogotá was used. Critical processes in handling machines, use of tools and manual manipulation of objects and mechanical transport of materials were selected. The sample was determined by simple random sample. An instrument with 61 questions and 4 checklists to machinery was applied to the workers. The processing was performed on a spreadsheet and analysis using descriptive statistics. Results: Employees have a good level of knowledge, however when they have to face a mechanical hazard they do not behave according to their level of knowledge. The dimension of danger of their activity is related to the mechanical hazard exposure. Although the level of knowledge of the safety norms has no variation according to the experience or education level of the workers, the degree of danger has. Controls with partial fulfillments are evident. Conclusions: The company has controls for the security conditions that guarantee the protection of workers, but it is necessary to include systems in order to minimize the risks. It is important to establish the worker’s culture of self care.