Uses and applications of the Form for Sanitary Inspection of Work Processes and Environments in Gas Stations, Santa Catarina state, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction:  the Form for Sanitary Inspection of Work Processes and Environments in Gas Stations (RIAT-PRC) is used for health surveillance by Reference Centers in Occupational Health (Cerest).

Objective:  to describe the uses and applications of the RIAT-PRC tool from the experience of the Surveillance of Occupational Health in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Method:  descriptive and analytical report of the RIAT-PRC tool and of the evaluation of its quality and use in Santa Catarina, from 2010 to 2014.

Results:  the form was introduced in 459 gas stations, with good filling degree in general. The application of the tool, made it possible to verify that the companies carried out only a few biological and environmental monitoring. It also allowed us to follow workers’ occupational and health conditions along the study time as well as to identify risk factors in work environments.

Conclusion:  the RIAT-PRC was useful for surveillance and for supporting studies on benzene exposure in gas stations. The results highlighted the need to improve the training of surveillance technical teams, aiming at an effective monitoring of gas stations workers’ exposure to benzene and other chemicals.

Keywords: sanitary inspection; evaluation of research programs and tools; benzene; occupational health; gas station