O uso de equipamentos de proteção individual durante a aplicação de agrotóxicos : um estudo com agricultores no interior do RS.

Abstract

The tobacco farming is one of the main sources of family agriculture's income due to the guarantee of commercialization of its production. However, the abusive use of agrochemicals and the high demand for manpower are characteristics of the planting that allows to question the tobacco farming's benefits. these chemicals present a risk to human health, but especially to rural workers. The current study's objective was to analyze the use, the frequency and the type of PPE used during the application of pesticides by rural workers in the city of Arroio do Tigre/RS and it was about an exploratory descriptive study of qualitative approach, with 14 rural workers. The data were analyzed using the Content Analysis method and data analysis showed that the majority of respondents were male (93%), and the predominant age group was over 41 (63%). The schooling that prevailed was incomplete primary education (57%), which can be difficult for farmers to understand the correct use of PPE due to the access and understanding of information. From the interviewees, the majority (63%) started their activities in agriculture during their childhood, thus increasing the exposure time to pesticides. It was also evidenced that the studied ones (100%) make inadequate use of the Personal Protective Equipments (PPE's) not carrying out the appropriate prevention measures in the handling of pesticides. Thus, it was observed that all interviewees (100%) were aware of the need to use PPE correctly for health, but did not want to use it due to the discomfort of using the equipment or lack of information. In this way we consider the need for awareness and education for health, offering workers information about the serious consequences of the pesticide's use to the human health.