Communication of Environmental Risks to Potentially Exposed Workers: An Experience in the Oil Industry, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Conflicts between workers and health experts and their multiple rationalities must always be considered in the risk communication process. Disagreements are frequent in understanding occupational exposure to environmental agents among stakeholders. The present study aimed to describe the evolution of differences between experts and oil industry workers in Bahia, Brazil. The Tool of Instructions to the Double was applied and the results followed over three annual assessment cycles (2017–2019). In the observed period, a reduction in the share of disagreements between workers and experts was identified: 25.2% (n = 183) to 3.1% (n = 22), representing a percent variation of 98.9% relating the understanding of occupational noise exposure based on normative classification. The relations of conflict between workers and experts and the multiple social and cultural dimensions must always be considered as an important challenge in workers’ health. Thus, the use of models encouraging dialogue and value knowledge from the experience of workers seem to be more appropriate in conflicting contexts, enhancing risk control, protection and health promotion.