Impactos na saúde dos trabalhadores da indústria de cerâmica vermelha: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

The creation of ceramic products arose out of the need for tools for daily life activities, gaining utility in the most diverse aspects of everyday life, from domestic use to construction. Today, the ceramics industry plays an important role in the country's economy and development. This segment produces bricks, tiles, flagstones, among other essential products. However, its production flowchart brings with it various environmental and health impacts for potters, such as noise, heat, ultraviolet radiation, mineral dust, as well as accidental and ergonomic risks, as possible causes of various injuries. Thus, guided by the research question, we sought to understand “what are the impacts on the health of workers in the red ceramics industry as a result of occupational exposure?”, with the aim of mapping existing studies on the health of workers in the industry and its impacts. This is a scoping review, based on the scoping review manual proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, in which we searched for scientific papers in the PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and BDENF and BDTD databases using a search key made up of descriptors and Boolean operators. As an inclusion criterion, we selected studies available in full in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and as an exclusion criterion we determined studies with more than 15 years of publication and duplicates. Of the 334 results obtained, after screening, selection and eligibility, the final sample consisted of 7 studies. After reading the studies, it was observed that stress from thermal exposure, ergonomic impacts of an osteomuscular nature, exposure to silica and respiratory alterations were the main impacts identified in these workers, showing that 84% of the workers face a high thermal load, aggravated by intense activities and a lack of adjustments in the work environment, they have symptoms such as low back pain, shoulder and knee pain, with a predisposition to Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (DORTs), as well as a propensity to develop silicosis, associated with respiratory alterations in at least half of the workers. In addition to the direct impacts on potters, there are significant environmental repercussions, also affecting the health of the community. Therefore, in view of the above, there is a need to draw up public policies aimed at occupational health, specific regulations for the sector and the promotion of suitable working conditions, such as encouraging the use of personal protective equipment and training.