Factors Related to Occupational Exposure to Chemicals among Cleaning Workers in Nicaragua
Keywords:
occupational health, chemicals, cleaning workers, occupational exposure, occupational safetyAbstract
Cleaning workers routinely use chemical products under occupational, organizational, and environmental conditions that may influence opportunities for contact during cleaning tasks. In Nicaragua, information on these conditions is limited. This study aimed to describe the main occupational, organizational, and environmental factors related to occupational exposure to chemicals among cleaning workers at nine sites in the country. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 workers from educational, administrative, and service institutions. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and direct observation of working conditions and were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The most frequent work practices were reuse of secondary containers (98.1%), use of aerosol products (95.3%), and mixing of chemical products (67.0%). Training in safe chemical handling (87.7%) and supervision (89.6%) were common; however, only 18.9% of workers had access to technical information or safety data sheets. The most frequently used protective equipment consisted of masks (78.3%) and gloves (75.5%), whereas eye protection was uncommon (4.7%). Overall, 67.0% performed activities in confined spaces, 33.0% reported limited ventilation, and 98.1% used unlabeled secondary containers. The findings show the coexistence of practices that may favor contact with chemicals and organizational preventive measures and identify opportunities for improvement in access to technical information, container labeling, and eye protection.
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