Working irregular hours and commitment of health: a study on truck drivers

• Autor(a) principal: Ferreira, Sérgio de Souza
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Outros Autores: Alvarez, Denise
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Sistemas & Gestão
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistasg.uff.br/sg/article/view/V8N1A5
• topic: Caminhoneiros; Turnos não usuais; Organização do trabalho; Adoecimento no trabalho

The study discusses some health problems or health risks - obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, postural alterations, for instance - found in the work of truck drivers, considering aspects related to work organization. Data collection was carried out during the development of a health program focused on the health of truck drivers, sponsored by the Concessionary of the Anhanguera-Bandeirantes System - AutoBAn (a company of the CCR Group), along the Anhanguera and the Bandeirantes highways in the state of Sao Paulo. A closed questionnaire was used for the survey containing questions directed to the life style and work style of truck drivers, and to the way they interfered in their quality of life and their health. Blood pressure of the truckers was measured and other health parameters were analyzed, such as smoking, sedentarism, overweight and obesity, and hereditary factors for diseases. The results of the study show that to 53,39% of the truck drivers interviewed their work activity interferes in their physical health, whereas 43,89% indicated an impact on their mental health. There is also an evident influence of working time and irregular schedules on physical and psychological overcharge, and their mental and physical symptoms, such as relationship problems, loneliness, sleepiness, irritability, fatigue, and diminished reflex that can lead not only to chronic diseases but also acute diseases, among which, polytraumatisms caused by accidents in the highways. Keywords: Truck drivers. Unusual schedule. Work organization. Worker illness.