Análisis de la Exposición a Factores de Riesgo Biológico en una Empresa de Administración y Disposición de Residuos 2013-2018

Abstract

The handling of solid waste in sanitary landfills represents an important occupational exposure to biological risk, materialized in the occurrence of occupational accidents mostly due to puncture, absenteeism due to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and the acquisition of occupational diseases. Objective: To analyze the exposure to biological risk factors in the workers of a waste management and disposal company during the 2013-2018 period Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, in the processes of final disposal and use; 60 investigations of accidents at work due to biological risk from 2013 to 2018 were analyzed. A survey of perception of biological risk in 50 workers was applied and the biological risk was assessed applying the Spanish Biogaval methodology. With the previous inputs, the hierarchy of problems was elaborated through the logical framework methodology and from these the recommendations for risk intervention were generated. Results: The disposal area presented the greatest number of accidents (n = 48), especially affecting general auxiliaries (n = 55,) in the arms and legs (n = 31 and n = 25, respectively) due to cuts or wounds with glass and unknown agents (n = 19). Relationship between accidents and age variables was observed in children under 30 years of age or with less than one year experience in the position (p = 0.04). By 2018, 16% of the population had an accident due to biological risk, with a frequency of 16.4 accidents -year, which represented 57.42 days lost for every 240,000 man hours worked. In the risk assessment with the Biogaval methodology, five of the etiologic agents evaluated, (Rabies Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Staphylococci, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium sp) obtained a level of risk (LEB> 17) that requires immediate corrective measures. ANÁLISIS DE LA EXPOSICIÓN A FACTORES DE RIESGO BIOLÓGICO EN UNA EMPRESA 17 DE ADMINISTRACIÓN Y DISPOSICIÓN DE RESIDUOS 2013-2018 Conclusion: There is an important exposure to biological risk factors in the waste management and disposal company, in its area of use and final disposal. However, after its evaluation under the Biogaval methodology, it is expressed that of the 16 etiologic agents evaluated, only five of them present a LEB risk level as an exposure level that requires strengthening in the implementation of corrective measures, however it should be strengthened processes such as the identification and assessment of risk, the investigation of accidents at work and the efficient compliance with biosafety standards, all under a program of management of the biological risk.