Uso situado de los EPP (Equipos de Protección Personal) frente al riesgo biológico: ejemplo de un laboratorio seguro de contención de nivel 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) with regard to biological risk. It is based on an action research approach conducted in a confined biological analysis laboratory, of “class 3” safety level. The first results, coming from the analysis of risk perception and the operators' activity, show that their actual use of PPE depends on both the safety prescription and their own perception of risk in the work activity. At the same time, depending on the constraints caused by the PPE in situation, operators adjust the way they wear or use them, whilst implementing additional strategies to reach both efficiency and safety in the work activity. Thus, work safety in this context requires considering the PPE in a broader framework: the relation between operators, their risk perception and real work activity.

Keywords

• Biological risk
• Risk Perception
• personal protective equipment
• Activity
• Safety