Current Situation of Occupational Health in the Fire Department of the Morona Canton

Main Article Content

José Olegario Jaime-Cajilima
Ramiro Fernando Isa-Jara

Abstract

The Morona canton, considered one of the most vulnerable cities in Ecuador, faces significant challenges in ensuring efficient emergency services. Firefighters, key players in emergency management, operate under extreme conditions that expose them to serious occupational risks, such as respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal diseases, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Despite this, occupational health in this fire department has been insufficiently researched, which limits the development of effective preventive strategies. This study analyzes the current state of occupational health among firefighters in this canton, with emphasis on the availability and effectiveness of pre-employment screenings as a tool for the early detection of occupational diseases. Approximately two out of three firefighters have a body mass index (BMI) above the recommended values. Furthermore, dissatisfaction with protocols, equipment, operating procedures, and high-level management has been noted. Anomalous levels of carbon dioxide pollution above 0.8% have also been detected. This suggests some improvements at both the human and infrastructure levels, with the aim of increasing workplace safety standards.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Jaime-Cajilima, J. ., & Isa-Jara, R. . (2025). Current Situation of Occupational Health in the Fire Department of the Morona Canton. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT, 10(3), 999-1011. https://doi.org/10.33386/593dp.2025.3.3238
Section
Investigaciones /estudios empíricos
Author Biographies

José Olegario Jaime-Cajilima, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo - Ecuador

jaime.jpg

0009-0005-1972-5030

I have 20 years of experience as a firefighter, currently serving as a station deputy inspector. I hold a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Industrial Safety with a focus on Occupational Risk Prevention at UNACH.

Ramiro Fernando Isa-Jara, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo - Ecuador

isa.jpg

0000-0001-5624-5822

In 2019 I obtained the degree of Doctor in Electronic Engineering (PhD) at the National University of Mar del Plata - Argentina. In 2022 I completed my Postdoctoral Fellowship at the UTN of Buenos Aires -Argentina. Since 2022, I have been working as a university professor- ESPOCH and postgraduate professor at UNACH. In addition, I am an adjunct researcher at the UTN of Buenos Aires.

References

Barraza, G. F., Rodríguez-Canales, C., Henriquez, M., Miranda-Montaña, J., Toro-Salinas, A., Hecht-Chau, G., García-Pelayo, S., Alvear-Ordenes, I., Barraza-Gómez, F., Rodríguez-Canales, C., Henriquez, M., Miranda-Montaña, J., Toro-Salinas, A., Hecht-Chau, G., García-Pelayo, S., & Alvear-Ordenes, I. (2023). Características Antropométricas, Capacidad de Salto Vertical y Resistencia de Carrera de Bomberos, En Servicio Activo, con Relación a la Edad. International Journal of Morphology, 41(2), 577–582. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022023000200577

Barrère, M., Hankin, C., Nicolaou, N., Eliades, D. G., & Parisini, T. (2020). Measuring cyber-physical security in industrial control systems via minimum-effort attack strategies. Journal of Information Security and Applications, 52, 102471. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JISA.2020.102471

Bralewska, K. (2024). Air pollution inside fire stations: State-of-the-art and future challenges. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 255, 114289. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJHEH.2023.114289

Chooi, Y. C., Ding, C., & Magkos, F. (2019). The epidemiology of obesity. Metabolism, 92, 6–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.METABOL.2018.09.005

Ciangura, C., Carette, C., Faucher, P., Czernichow, S., & Oppert, J.-M. (2017). Obesidad del adulto. EMC - Tratado de Medicina, 21(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1636-5410(17)84245-8

Dräger (2024). Manual técnico de Dispositivo de medición múltiple de gases. https://www.draeger.com/Content/Documents/Products/technical-manual-x-am-5000-9023999-ifu-es.pdf

Fabara, G., Jaramillo, C., & Falcón, R. (2020). Clima organizacional y la satisfacción laboral en los empleados de la Empresa Municipal Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ambato - Empresa Pública. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT, 5(6), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.33386/593DP.2020.6.255

Fuller, R., Landrigan, P. J., Balakrishnan, K., Bathan, G., Bose-O’Reilly, S., Brauer, M., Caravanos, J., Chiles, T., Cohen, A., Corra, L., Cropper, M., Ferraro, G., Hanna, J., Hanrahan, D., Hu, H., Hunter, D., Janata, G., Kupka, R., Lanphear, B., … Yan, C. (2022). Pollution and health: a progress update. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(6), e535–e547. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0/ATTACHMENT/2EE53347-A2F9-42A9-9FA0-0310A3F4DFE2/MMC1.PDF

Garnica, W. L., & Mendieta, Z. (2023). ESTUDIO DE LA CULTURA Y CLIMA ORGANIZACIONAL AL PERSONAL OPERATIVO DEL BENEMÉRITO CUERPO DE BOMBEROS VOLUNTARIOS DE CUENCA.

Gonzalez, D. E., Lanham, S. N., Martin, S. E., Cleveland, R. E., Wilson, T. E., Langford, E. L., & Abel, M. G. (2024). Salud de los bomberos: una revisión narrativa de las amenazas ocupacionales y las contramedidas. Salud. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040440

Graham, E., Khaja, S., y…, A. C.-M.-… de O., & 2021, undefined. (2021). Bomberos y COVID-19: una perspectiva de salud ocupacional. Journals.Lww.Com. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002297

Jansen, C. (2016). Developing and Operating Industrial Security Services to Mitigate Risks of Digitalization. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 49(29), 133–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IFACOL.2016.11.076

Lecube, A., Monereo, S., Rubio, M. Á., Martínez-de-Icaya, P., Martí, A., Salvador, J., Masmiquel, L., Goday, A., Bellido, D., Lurbe, E., García-Almeida, J. M., Tinahones, F. J., García-Luna, P. P., Palacio, E., Gargallo, M., Bretón, I., Morales-Conde, S., Caixàs, A., Menéndez, E., … Casanueva, F. F. (2017). Prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de la obesidad. Posicionamiento de la Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad de 2016. Endocrinología, Diabetes y Nutrición, 64, 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENDONU.2016.07.002

Lin, X., & Li, H. (2021). Obesity: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutics. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/FENDO.2021.706978

Moreira, D., & Rodríguez, Á. A. (2021). ESTRÉS LABORAL Y CLIMA ORGANIZACIONAL EN EL PERSONAL OPERATIVO DEL CUERPO DE BOMBEROS WORK STRESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE IN THE OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 4. https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v4i8edesp.0042

Moreno, Manuel. (2012). Definición y clasificación de la obesidad. Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes, 23(2), 124–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0716-8640(12)70288-2

Muñoz, K. (2022). Vista de Gestión organizacional de los Cuerpos de Bomberos en la provincia de los Ríos. https://cienciaytecnologia.uteg.edu.ec/revista/index.php/cienciaytecnologia/article/view/533/628

Olaz, Á. C. (2024). Vista de La Definiendo el clima laboral. 100 años de revisión bibliográfica. https://raco.cat/index.php/RIO/article/view/434088/528346

Ore, E. E. D. (2022). Importancia del Clima laboral para el cumplimiento de los objetivos organizacionales/Relevance of the work environment for the fulfillment of the organizational objectives. Gestión En El Tercer Milenio, 25(49), 147–152. https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=IFME&sw=w&issn=17282969&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA709306141&sid=googleScholar&linkaccess=fulltext

Ortega, V. L. L. (2021). CLIMA LABORAL EN EL CUERPO DE BOMBEROS MUNICIPAL DEL CANTÓN PUEBLOVIEJO.

Ortiz, M., Itard, L., & Bluyssen, P. M. (2020). Indoor environmental quality related risk factors with energy-efficient retrofitting of housing: A literature review. Energy and Buildings, 221, 110102. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENBUILD.2020.110102

Pacheco, M. M. A. (2017). El diagrama de pareto rediseñado. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/71419172.pdf

Pleticosic, R. Y., Mecías Calvo, M., Navarro-Patón, R., & Calvo, M. M. (2024). programas de ejercicio físico en la composición corporal, condición física y calidad de vida de personas mayores con sobrepeso u obesidad: una revisión sistemática. Dialnet.Unirioja.Es, 56, 47–62. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=9452622

Quispe, T., Igobernanza, L. V.-, & 2020, undefined. (2020). Epistemología e investigación cuantitativa. Igobernanza.Org. https://doi.org/10.47865/igob.vol3.2020.88

Rojas, A. (2022). UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE LOJA FACULTAD DE LA SALUD HUMANA Estado nutricional y estilo de vida del personal de salud del Distrito 11D05 Espíndola-Salud Trabajo de titulación previa a la obtención del título de Médico General.

Slezakova, K., Esteves, F., Vaz, J., Alves, M. J., Madureira, J., Costa, S., Fernandes, A., Teixeira, J. P., Morais, S., & Pereira, M. C. (2023). Occupational Exposure of Firefighters in Non-fire Settings. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 449, 79–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12547-8_7

Smith, D. L. (2011). Firefighter fitness: Improving performance and preventing injuries and fatalities. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 10(3), 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0B013E31821A9FEC

Teixeira, J., Sousa, G., Morais, S., Delerue-Matos, C., & Oliveira, M. (2023). Assessment of coarse, fine, and ultrafine particulate matter at different microenvironments of fire stations. Chemosphere, 335, 139005. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2023.139005

Valladolid, M., juris, L. C.-V., & 2020, undefined. (2020). El enfoque cualitativo en la investigación jurídica, proyecto de investigación cualitativa y seminario de tesis. Dialnet.Unirioja.Es. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7628480

Vargas, D. J., Rivera Guerrero, A., & Reigosa Lara, A. (2024). Alianzas Estratégicas Y Convenios De Cooperación De Los Cuerpos De Bomberos De La Provincia Morona Santiago Del Ecuador. 593 Digital Publisher CEIT, 9(6), 626–643. https://doi.org/10.33386/593dp.2024.6.2754

Vohra, K., Vodonos, A., Schwartz, J., Marais, E. A., Sulprizio, M. P., & Mickley, L. J. (2021). Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem. Environmental Research, 195. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2021.110754