Problems incurred by agricultural pilots and its relations with occupational health and safety

Abstract

This study assesses qualitative information from studies that address the problems incurred by agricultural pilots in the execution of their work, which may be related to the occupational health and safety. The aim is to investigate whether the evolution of the technologies used in agricultural aviation is accompanied by an improvement in working conditions. In order to achieve this, it was performed a systematic review through computerized search engines to gather existing information on this subject. Data synthesis included the exposure factors presented in work environment and their relations with occupational health and safety. The main problems associated with the health and safety covered in the studies includes exposure to chemicals, noise exposure and unfavorable thermal conditions, improper use or lack of personal and collective protective equipment, team management and occupational health management. Although they are not treated in more detail, other problems are presented in studies that evaluated the conditions of the work environment. These include training and education, working time management, shocks and vibrations, gravitational forces, personal relationships, weather conditions and pilot’s responsibilities.