Factors associated with absenteeism-illness in rural workers in a timber company

Abstract

The monitoring of absenteeism-illness has revealed its high prevalence, and a strong relationship with work. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with absenteeismillness among the rural workers in a timber company in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is an analytical cross-sectional study, carried out among 883 workers. The medical certificates issued in the company over one year were surveyed. For the analysis, use was made of descriptive statistics and bi-and multivariable analyses. The strength of association was measured by the odds ratio (OR) with help from logistic regression (p<0.05). A prevalence of 54% of medical certificates was found in the population. Bivariate analysis revealed an association between job (forestry assistant (OR=13.1), carpenter (OR=15) and chainsaw operator (OR=39.6)), length of service in the company, departments and length of schooling with absenteeism-illness. In the multi-variate analysis, the association between length of schooling and being a carpenter disappeared, while the other associations remained. It is concluded that there is important evidence about the occupational and demographic factors and absenteeism-illness among forestry workers. Factores asociados al absentismo-enfermedad de los trabajadores rurales de una empresa forestalEl acompañamiento del absentismo-enfermedad ha revelado altas prevalencias y fuerte relación con el trabajo. Se objetivó analizar los factores asociados al absentismoenfermedad de los trabajadores rurales de una empresa forestal en Minas Gerais-Brasil.Se trata de un estudio transversal, analítico, realizado con 883 trabajadores. Fueron levantados los testificados médicos durante un año. Se utilizó para análisis estadístico descriptivo, análisis bi y multivariadas. La fuerza de asociación fue medida por el odds ratio (OR) con auxilio de la regresión logística (p<0,05). Fueron encontradas prevalencia del 54,0% de testificados en la población. El análisis bivariada reveló asociación entre la función (ayudante forestal (OR=13,1), ebanista (OR=15) y operador de motosierra (OR=39,6)), tiempo de trabajo, sectores y escolaridad con el absentismo-enfermedad.En la multivariada hubo desaparición de la asociación con el ebanista y con la escolaridad, siendo mantenidas las demás. Se concluye que hay evidencias importantes sobre la relación entre factores ocupacionales y demográficos y el absentismo-enfermedad de los trabajadores forestales.

Fatores associados à capacidade para o trabalho de mototaxistas

“…Motorcycle taxi drivers in the 21-29 years and 30-39 years age groups had higher medians of absenteeism due to disease. Absenteeism is characterized by the worker's absence in the work activities and may be due to the process of (psychosocial and biophysiological) physical wear/illness arising from the working conditions, which culminate in the worker's withdrawal from work commitments to recover physically and/or psychically 21 .…”

Absenteeism and associated factors: a study addressing the workers from a footwear manufacturer

“…Another result reported was how long the individuals worked for the company; most leaves occurred between one to three years working in the company and declined over the years. One study analyzing sick notes presented by 883 workers from a company reported similar results concerning absenteeism due to illnesses, having worked in the company for two to five years, among other factors (14) . The frequency of workers' absence may decrease over time, considering that the most experienced workers already have gone through a period for the body to adapt to the productive process and its physical and mental demands.…”

“…In this sense, some authors claim that workers in the footwear industry are exposed to chemical risks, such as glue and adhesives used in the assembly of shoes and solvents to dissolve the raw material since such products emit vapors that are absorbed by the body through the respiratory tract and skin (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) .…”

Absenteísmo por doença ocupacional de trabalhadores rurais no setor canavieiro

“…Em um estudo realizado por Simões et al 13 com carpinteiros, foi observada a alta frequência de afastamentos por doenças osteomusculares por causa do manuseio da serra elétrica com os membros superiores. Outros estudos que analisaram as condições de trabalho de trabalhadores rurais associaram a alta incidência de absenteísmo por doenças osteomusculares ao sistema de pagamento por produção, caracterizado por altas cargas de trabalho sem pausas, além de ambiente ocupacional propenso ao desenvolvimento de alterações musculoesqueléticas 6,14,15 .…”