A Comparative Study of Work Places in Two Glass Industries: An Automated and a Manual One

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to understand how the use of different technologies, organizational structures and task control determine the workers' health-disease process. A better understanding of this issue will lead to suggestions and measures that can contribute positively to the modification of morbidity and mortality of glass industry workers. The study was conducted in two glass industries in São Paulo, Brazil, and one was automated and the other, manual. The methodology was based on an ergonomic analysis of the activities performed in the two workstations - the glass blow operators in the automated machine and that of the manual glass blow operators, and included direct observation of the work situation, interview with workers and a questionnaire based on previous knowledge of these two types of industry. The sample included 41 workers, 27 in IS machine and 14 in manual blow. The analyzed variables were characteristics of workers and work process. The comparison between the two industries showed statistically significant differences in relation to workers' perception of high level noise, bad work tools and complaints of leg pain and low back pain. The use of ergonomic methodology was perfectly adequate for the recognition of critical aspects of the workplace.