Risk Communication Concerning Welding Fumes for the Primary Preventive Care of Welding Apprentices in Southern Brazil

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz²  Clarice Alves Bonow³  Joana Cezar Vaz¹ 

[1] School of Chemistry and Food, Federal University of Rio Grande, RS 96202-900, Brazil; E-Mail:;School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil;Graduate Program on Nursing, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS 97500-970, Brazil; E-Mail:

关键词: risk communication;    welding trainees;    primary prevention;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120100986

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This study’s aim was to assess the perceptions of welding apprentices concerning welding fumes being associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disorders and assess the implementation of risk communication as a primary prevention tool in the welding training process. This quasi-experimental, non-randomized study with before-and-after design was conducted with 84 welding apprentices in Southern Brazil. Poisson Regression analysis was used. Relative Risk was the measure used with a 95% confidence interval and 5% (p ≤ 0.05) significance level. Significant association was found between perceptions of worsened symptoms of respiratory disorders caused by welding fumes and educational level (p = 0.049), the use of goggles to protect against ultraviolet rays (p = 0.023), and access to services in private health facilities without insurance coverage (p = 0.001). Apprentices younger than 25 years old were 4.9 times more likely to perceive worsened cardiovascular symptoms caused by welding fumes after risk communication (RR = 4.91; CI 95%: 1.09 to 22.2). The conclusion is that risk communication as a primary preventive measure in continuing education processes implemented among apprentices, who are future welders, was efficacious. Thus, this study confirms that risk communication can be implemented as a primary prevention tool in welding apprenticeships.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.