Abstract
Background
Health hazard and insalubrity characterize the work in a shipyard
Objective
To know about the perception shipyard workers have of the many risks to which they are exposed, including metals, and the strategies they use to deal with such risks.
Method
Qualitative research conducted by semi-structured interviews with 14 workers directly exposed to metals at a shipyard in Rio de Janeiro. The script approached issues related to work/health, risks, work accidents and defensive strategies. We performed a thematic analysis based on Work Psychodynamics.
Results
Perceptions about organization of the tasks in the workplace, risks of accidents, health problems related to work and exposure risks to metals. We identified the following defensive strategies: religiosity, contempt for danger, submission and passivity, control, denial, cooperation/trust, rationalization and use of drugs at work. Workers held little technical information on the risks of exposure to metals and only the older ones knew how to recognize such elements.
Conclusion
The workers’ risk perception is based on practice, deductions, and conversations with colleagues. The majority says they do not receive information about exposure to metals, and they are unable to identify the metals to which they are exposed.
Keywords:
workers health; metals; risk perception; adaptation, psychological; occupational risks