Prácticas de trabajo asociadas a la exposición a sílice y asbesto en el sector de la construcción en Colombia, 2024

Objective: To identify work practices associated with exposure to silica and asbestos in the construction sector in Colombia.
Methodology: Exploratory qualitative study in nine companies that met the criteria for occupational safety, health, and environmental protection, classifying them as high performance, with scores equal to or above the median (88/100 points). The study population consisted of workers and leaders of the occupational safety and health management system.
Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and November 2024. Data analysis took a thematic categorical approach, based on three categories defined in accordance with Resolution 0312 of 2019 of the Ministry of Labor: 1) guidelines, 2) process and risk management, and 3) capacity building and culture.
Results: The practices identified were: Category 1: lack of knowledge and limited implementation of regulations, absence of specific policies for silica and asbestos. Category 2: general hazard matrices that do not include these substances, basic control measures, and epidemiological surveillance systems without integration of silica- and asbestos-related diseases
. Category 3: empirical learning, general training, and a culture of self-care.
Conclusions: Gaps were evident in compliance with legal requirements and management practices for exposure to silica and asbestos, despite being companies classified