OBJECTIVES: Despite the potential presence in many workplaces, biological risk is little known and largely underestimated, except in healthcare environments. Objectives: To evaluate perception, knowledge and behaviors adopted for protection and prevention of biological risk, related also to the occupational activity, among construction and agricultural workers. METHODS: Workers were recruited at farms and construction companies of Molise Region, Central Italy, which were visited within the surveillance activities planned by local institutions. A questionnaire was administered to workers to collect sociodemographic and occupational data, and concerning risk perception and knowledge, and awareness of available prevention measures, also related to the work activity. RESULTS: total of 143 workers (73.4% males, 42.9±10.7 years old) were interviewed, and 56.6% were construction workers. Only 24% of workers believed that infectious diseases could be frequent and health threatening in carrying out the work activities; half of them declared to be exposed to biological hazards, but 70% were unworried. An underestimation of the severity of some pathologies, such as listeriosis, leptospirosis and viral hepatitis emerged, and only 70% of workers believed that tetanus is highly or very highly dangerous for health. Furthermore, 33% of workers said to have scarce or insufficient knowledge of biological risk, and 97.2%, 80.4% and 45.5% were aware that a vaccine is available for tetanus, hepatitis B and A, respectively. All workers undergone the tetanus vaccination and 39.2% the anti-hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high probability of exposure to biological agents, the results of the survey revealed a lack of perception and knowledge of the risk, as well as a poor awareness of available preventive measures among construction and agricultural workers. These data point out the need to activate information and training programs on exposure to biological agents and on both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases potentially related to work activities, and to provide prevention procedures specific for these workplaces.

Introduzione: Il rischio biologico è presente non solo negli ambienti sanitari, ma anche in altri luoghi di lavoro, anche se è poco conosciuto e ampiamente sottostimato. Obiettivi: Valutare il grado di percezione, le conoscenze e i comportamenti adottati in materia di protezione e prevenzione del rischio biologico, anche correlati all’attività professionale, nei lavoratori dell’edilizia e dell’agricoltura. Metodi: I lavoratori sono stati reclutati presso aziende agricole ed imprese edili della Regione Molise visitate nell’ambito delle attività di vigilanza programmate dalle locali istituzioni. È stato somministrato un questionario strutturato per raccogliere dati sociodemografici, occupazionali e su percezione, conoscenza del rischio e delle misure di prevenzione, anche connesse con l’attività lavorativa. Risultati: Sono stati intervistati 143 lavoratori (73,4% maschi) di 42,9±10,7 anni, dei quali il 56,6% era occupato in edilizia. Solo il 24% dei lavoratori ritiene che le malattie infettive possano essere frequenti e pericolose nello svolgimento della propria attività lavorativa; sebbene oltre la metà di essi ritenga di essere esposto a pericoli di natura biologica, il 70% non ne è preoccupato. È emersa un’evidente sottostima della gravità di alcune patologie, tra cui listeriosi, leptospirosi ed epatiti virali e solo il 70% dei lavoratori ritiene che il tetano comporti un rischio alto o molto alto per la salute. Inoltre, il 33% dei lavoratori ha dichiarato di avere una scarsa o insufficiente conoscenza sul rischio biologico e solo il 97,2%, l’80,4% e il 45,5% ha affermato di sapere che è possibile vaccinarsi rispettivamente contro il tetano, l’epatite B e l’epatite A. Tutti i lavoratori hanno effettuato la vaccinazione antitetanica e il 39,2% anche l’anti-epatite B. Conclusioni: Nonostante l’elevata probabilità di esposizione agli agenti biologici, i risultati dell’indagine hanno evidenziato una scarsa percezione e conoscenza del rischio e delle misure di prevenzione disponibili nei lavoratori edili e agricoli intervistati. Questi dati sottolineano la necessità di attivare percorsi informativi e formativi sull’esposizione ad agenti biologici e sulle malattie infettive, emergenti o riemergenti, potenzialmente connesse con le attività lavorative e di predisporre procedure per la prevenzione specifiche per il comparto di appartenenza.

Biological risk in agriculture and construction workplaces: a survey on perception, knowledge and prevention measures

Tamburro M.
Primo
;
Sammarco M. L.;Ripabelli G.
Ultimo
2018-01-01

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Despite the potential presence in many workplaces, biological risk is little known and largely underestimated, except in healthcare environments. Objectives: To evaluate perception, knowledge and behaviors adopted for protection and prevention of biological risk, related also to the occupational activity, among construction and agricultural workers. METHODS: Workers were recruited at farms and construction companies of Molise Region, Central Italy, which were visited within the surveillance activities planned by local institutions. A questionnaire was administered to workers to collect sociodemographic and occupational data, and concerning risk perception and knowledge, and awareness of available prevention measures, also related to the work activity. RESULTS: total of 143 workers (73.4% males, 42.9±10.7 years old) were interviewed, and 56.6% were construction workers. Only 24% of workers believed that infectious diseases could be frequent and health threatening in carrying out the work activities; half of them declared to be exposed to biological hazards, but 70% were unworried. An underestimation of the severity of some pathologies, such as listeriosis, leptospirosis and viral hepatitis emerged, and only 70% of workers believed that tetanus is highly or very highly dangerous for health. Furthermore, 33% of workers said to have scarce or insufficient knowledge of biological risk, and 97.2%, 80.4% and 45.5% were aware that a vaccine is available for tetanus, hepatitis B and A, respectively. All workers undergone the tetanus vaccination and 39.2% the anti-hepatitis B. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high probability of exposure to biological agents, the results of the survey revealed a lack of perception and knowledge of the risk, as well as a poor awareness of available preventive measures among construction and agricultural workers. These data point out the need to activate information and training programs on exposure to biological agents and on both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases potentially related to work activities, and to provide prevention procedures specific for these workplaces.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11695/93769
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