Between the Craft and the Mud: An Analysis of the Work and Health Relationship of Firefighters in the Breach of the Córrego do Feijão Dam—Brumadinho/MG

Source:
By:Hugo Santos, Simone Oliveira, Sergio Portella

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v4i4.5266

Abstract:

Faced with the rupture of the VALE S.A. tailings dam that hit the city of Brumadinho (MG), the article sought to better understand the organisation of work of military firefighters who participated in the search and rescue operation and the relationship between work and health present in this scenario. This is a qualitative research with a focus on the subjective production of the speeches of seven firefighters who were interviewed individually with a semi-structured script, using as a basis of analysis the ergological perspective and the productions of the psychodynamics of work. The firefighters experienced a scenario with risks of injury, contamination, and even death. In the interviews, they showed that more than twelve hours of work was responsible for sleep problems during and after the performance, as well as the food provided and the lack of time for physical exercise proved to be aggravating factors for their health. Working in the tailing’s mud combined the development of musculoskeletal problems and anxiety, due to the possibility of contamination by metals present in the mud. The work relationships show a high degree of trust and recognition between the firefighters and the affected population, which helped in the motivation and continuation of the operation until the present moment. The work in this operation that gained national prominence was responsible for the feeling of pride and for feeling more capable and prepared to act in other disasters. This research is expected to broaden the discussion about the work-health relationship of military firefighters exposed to disasters, as well as serve as a subsidy to encourage the creation of public policies focused on the health of these workers.

References:

[1]United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), 2019. Human cost of disasters: An overview of the last 20 years 2000-2019. United Nations: New York. pp. 30. [2]Ragazzi, L., Murilo, R., 2019. Brumadinho: a engenharia de um crime (Portuguese) [Brumadinho: The engineering of a crime]. Belo Horizonte: Letramento. pp.256. [3]National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency, 2022. Dam Safety Report 2021 [Internet]. Ministry of Regional Development [Accessed 2022 Sep 22]. Available from: https://www.snisb.gov.br/relatorio-anual-de-seguranca-de-barragem/2021. [4]Brazilian Sleep Association, 2019. Sleep of Heroes: Brumadinho Case Highlights Sleep Deprivation of Firefighters [Internet]. SONO. 17 [Acessed Dec 30]. Available from: https://absono.com.br/wp-content/ uploads/2021/02/revista-sono-edicao-17-2019.pdf. [5]Oliveira, M., Oliveira, S., 2020. The human face of the hero: Analysis of the health-disease process of firefighters from virtual communities. Interface: Communication, Health, Education. 24, 1414-3281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/Interface.190252 [6]Minayo-Gomez, C., Thedim-Costa, S., 1997. The construction of the field of worker’s health: Paths and dilemmas. Rio de Janeiro. 13, 21-32. [7]Laurell, A., Noriega, M., 1989. Processo de produção e saúde : trabalho e desgaste operário (Portuguese) [Production process and health: Work and worker fatigue]. São Paulo: Hucitec. pp. 99-144. [8]Bendasolli, P., Soboll, L., 2011. Clínicas do trabalho: novas perspectivas para compreensão do trabalho na atualidade (Portuguese) [Work clinics: new perspectives for understanding work today]. São Paulo: Artesã. 2, 304. [9]Schwartz, Y., 2000. The ergological paradigm or a philosopher’s profession. Octarès Éditions: France. [10]Schwartz, Y., Durrive, L., 2021. Trabalho e Ergologia: conversas sobre a atividade humana (Portuguese) [Work & ergology: Conversations about human activity]. Rio de Janeiro, Eduff. 3, 378. [11]Douraffourg, J., 2021. O trabalho e o ponto de vista da atividade (Portuguese) [Work and activity point of view]. In: Schwartz, Y., Durrive, L., 2021. Trabalho e Ergologia: conversas sobre a atividade humana (Portuguese) [Work & ergology: conversations about human activity]. Rio de Janeiro, Eduff. 3, 378. [12]Canguilhem, G., 2009. The normal and the pathological. Princeton University Press :New Jersy. [13]Dejours, C., 2004. Subjetividade, trabalho e ação (Portuguese) [Subjectivity, work and action]. Prod. 14(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-65132004000300004 [14]Dejours, C., 1999. Conferências brasileiras: identidade, reconhecimento e transgressão no trabalho (Portuguese) [Brazilian conferences: identity, recognition and transgression at work]. São Paulo, Fundap. [15]Bardin, L., 2016. Análise de conteúdo (Portuguese) [Content analysis]. São Paulo. [16]Minayo, M., 2010. O desafio do conhecimento: pesquisa qualitativa em saúde (Portuguese) [The challenge of knowledge: qualitative health Research]. São Paulo, Hucitec. [17]Carvalho-Freitas, M., Bentivi, D., Ribeiro, E., et al., 2022. Psicologia organizacional e do trabalho: perspectivas teórico-práticas (Portuguese) [Organisational and Work Psychology: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives]. Vetor. [18]Guimarães, L., Freire, H., 2004. Sobre o estresse ocupacional e suas repercussões na saúde (Portuguese) [On occupational stress and its repercussions on health]. In: Guimarães, L., Grubits, S., 2004. Série saúde mental e trabalho (Portuguese) [On occupational stress and its repercussions on health]. São Paulo, Casa do Psicologo. 2. [19]Santos, L., Ascari, T., Sá, C., Ascari, R., 2018. Qualidade de vida de bombeiros militares atuantes nos serviços operacional e administrativo (Portuguese) [Quality of life of military firefighters working in operational and administrative services]. Revista de Enfermagem da UFSM. 8 (4), 674-687. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/2179769230564 [20]Lima, E., Assunção, A., Barreto, S., 2015. Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) em bombeiros de Belo Horizonte, Brasil: prevalência e fatores ocupacionais associados (Portuguese) [Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in firefighters from Belo Horizonte, Brazil: prevalence and associated occupational factors]. Brasília. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-37722015022234279288 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11609556 [21]Monteiro, J., Maus, D., Machado, F., et al., 2007. Firefighters: A look at quality of life at work. Psicol. Cienc. Prof. 27(3), 554-565. [22]Souza, K., Azevedo, C., Oliveira, S., 2017. The dynamics of recognition: Strategies of the military firefighters of Rio de Janeiro State. Rio de Janeiro. 41, 130-139. [23]Franco, M., 2010. Shaken minds: Daily exposure to disasters amplifies feelings of stress and distress, making emergency workers ill. Rio Grande do Sul. 23, 24-32. [24]Webber, M., Lee, R., Gustave, J., et al., 2011. Prevalence and incidence of high risk for obstructive sleep apnea in World Trade Center-exposed rescue/recovery workers. Sleep Breath. 15(3), 283-294. [25]Dirkzwager, A., Yzermans, C., Kessels, F., 2004. Psychological, musculoskeletal, and respiratory problems and sickness absence before and after involvement in a disaster: A longitudinal study among rescue workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 61(10), 870-872. [26]Morren, M., 2005. The health of volunteer firefighters three years after a technological disaster. Journal of Occupational Health. 47(6), 523-532. [27]Morren, M., 2007. The influence of a disaster on the health of rescue workers: A longitudinal study. CMAJ. 176(9), 1279-1283. [28]Dejours, C., 1992. The madness of work: Labour psychopathology study. Revista Psicologia e Saúde em Debate. 8(2). [29]De la hoz, R., Shohet, M., Chasan, R., et al., 2008. Occupational toxicant inhalation injury: The World Trade Center (WTC) experience. International Archives of Occupational & Environmental Health. 81(4), 479-485. [30]Huizink, A., Slottje, P., Witteveen, A., et al., 2006. Long term health complaints following the Amsterdam air disaster in police officers and fire-fighters. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 63(10), 657-662. [31]Rocha, M., Moraes, L., Almeida, L., et al., 2016. Impact of the dam failure in Mariana—MG on the health of the riverside population of the city of Colatina—ES. Revista Eletrônica Tempus. 10(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.18569/tempus.v10i3.1902 [32]Banauch, G., Dhala, A., Alleyne, D., et al., 2005. Bronchial hyperreactivity and other inhalation lung injuries in rescue/recovery workers after the World Trade Center collapse. Crit Care Med. 33(1), S102- 106. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ccm.0000151138.10586.3a [33]Cohen, H., Zeig-Owens, R., Joe, C., et al., 2019. Long-term cardiovascular disease risk among firefighters after the World Trade Center disaster. JAMA Network Open. 2(9). [34]Kwon, S., Crowley, G., Mikhail, M., et al., 2019. Metabolic syndrome biomarkers of World Trade Center airway hyperreactivity: A 16-year prospective cohort study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 47(6), 523-532. DOI: doi:10.3390/ijerph16091486 [35]Webber, M., Glaser, M., Weakley, J., et al., 2011. Physician-diagnosed respiratory conditions and mental health symptoms 7-9 years following the World Trade Center disaster. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 54(9), 661-671. [36]Gonzáles, R., Beck, C., Donaduzzi, J., et al., 2006. O estado de alerta: um exploratório com o corpo de bombeiros (Portuguese) [The state of alert: an exploratory with the fire department]. Rio de Janeiro, Esc Anna Nery R Enferm. 370-377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-81452006000300003 [37]Souza, K., Velloso, M., Oliveira, S., 2012. A profissão de bombeiro militar e a análise da atividade para compreensão da relação trabalho-saúde: revisão da literatura (Portuguese) [The military firefighter profession and activity analysis for understanding the work-health relationship: A literature review]. Acidentes, Doenças e Adoecimentos Relacionados ao Trabalho. 2. Available from: http:// www.proceedings.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=MSC0000000112012000100021&script=sci_arttext. [38]Dejours, C., 2011. Work psychopathology—work psychodynamics. Laboreal. 7(1). [39]Brito, J., 2008. The real work. Rio de Janeiro. 2, 440-445. [40]Ruiz, S., Araújo, A., 2012. Health and safety and subjectivity at work: The psychosocial risks. São Paulo. 37, 170-180. [41]LaPorte, T., Consolini, P., 1991. Working in practice but not in theory: Theoretical challenges of “high-reliability organisations”. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory: J-PART. 1(1), 19-48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jpart.a037070 [42]Weick, K., Sutcliffe, K., 2007. Managing the unexpected: Resilient performance in an age of uncertainty. GetAbstract: Luzern, Switzerland. [43]Oliveira, L., 2019. The construction of trust in the face of destructions caused by an extreme event: A study on the response of the military fire department of Minas Gerais in the SAMARCO S.A. disaster [PhD thesis]. Getulio Vargas: Getulio Vargas Foundation, São Paulo School of Business Administration. [44] Lee, S., Olshfski, D., 2002. Employee commitment and firefighters: It’s my job. Public Administration Review. 62(s1), 108-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-6210.62.s1.19