Risk communication as a tool for training apprentice welders: a study about risk perception and occupational...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Industrial Safety
• Risk Management

Background:

• Welding involves exposure to various physical, chemical, biological, and physiological hazards.
• Understanding apprentice welders' perceptions of these risks is crucial for developing effective safety interventions.
• Occupational accidents and injuries are a significant concern in the welding trade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify apprentice welders' perceptions of physical, chemical, biological, and physiological risk factors.
• To determine the types of occupational accidents experienced by apprentice welders.
• To report on the development of a socioenvironmental education intervention for risk communication.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative study involving 161 apprentice welders in Southern Brazil.
• Data collected through structured interviews on risk perception, occupational accidents, and welding experience.
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS 19.0.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of perceived risks: physical (96.9%), chemical (95%), physiological (86.3%), and biological (51.5%).
• 39.7% of participants reported occupational accidents, with 27.3% reporting burns.
• Risk perception and frequency of perceived factors increase with welding experience.

Conclusions:

• Apprentice welders are aware of the risks associated with their profession.
• A correlation exists between welding experience, accident occurrence, and the perception of risk factors.
• Findings support the need for targeted risk communication and education for apprentice welders.