Abstract
Respect for biosafety standards is critical for the provision of safe care, and education in vocational training in health plays a key role in this process. This article is the outcome of an exploratory-descriptive research project that used a qualitative approach to identify how technical education nursing teachers working at institutions linked to the Federal Professional and Technological Education Network in a state in Southern Brazil conceive biosafety. Data were collected through interviews conducted for a one-month period, in 2012, among nursing teachers of two institutions involved in supervised internship activities. The results showed three views on biosafety: as a synonym of personal protective equipment; as protection of those involved in the work; and as safety for life. It was also noted that teachers reproduce what they learned in school and make decisions influenced by scenarios in their practice. It was concluded that teachers understand the importance of adopting safe working practices and that education influences the actions of future professionals; however, a minority of them took the concept of defending life involved in this issue into account.
Keywords
exposure to biological agents; biosafety; nursing; technical education in nursing; worker's health