Postos de trabalho associados a explosivos: principais riscos e fatores de risco laborais, doenças profissionais associadas e medidas de proteção recomendadas

Introduction / objectives: The professionals involved in the handling of explosives are subject to several risks/ risk factors; however, the generality of the bibliography consulted addresses specific issues. This study was designed so that it is possible to have a global perspective that allows Occupational Health teams to assess and prevent occupational risk/ risk factors, as well as to prescribe protective measures (collective and individual), capable of preserving workers’ health. Methodology: This is an Integrative Bibliographic Review, initiated through a survey in November 2016 in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina, Academic Search Complete and RCAAP”. Content: The main risks/ risk factors associated with this sector are noise/ hypoacusis/ tinnitus, explosion/ fire/ burn/ fall or projection of objects/ fractures/ contusion/ cut/ crush, various ocular lesions, chemical agents (dermatitis, cancer, anemia), musculoskeletal injuries, herniopathies, burial, vibrations, ultraviolet, thermal discomfort and stress. The use of ear protection, footwear and clothing appropriate to the conduction of electrostatic electricity and mask/ respiratory protection emerged as the main measures of individual protection. Conclusions: The main risks are physical and relate to the lack of adequate protection to deal with the effects of the explosion wave; however, the chemical risks associated with the compounds involved in the manufacture of explosives and the ergonomic hazards related to the manual transport are also important. The articles were incomplete in relation to the description of possible collective and individual protection measures, as well as in the approach given to associated occupational diseases. Moreover, most of the published articles were prepared in a military context, so the conclusions cannot be extrapolated directly into the civil context. More relevant and available research is needed to increase the decision-making of occupational health teams.