The experience of being a public safety worker: subjectivities and reflexivity on the risks and stress in work and daily life

Introduction
The aim of this study was to explore the subjectivities and reflexivity on the experiences, risks and stress factors associated with the work and daily life of municipal public safety workers

Methods
Participated 20 men and 10 women, Mexican public safety agents, from 20 to 45 aged. Through the analysis of the life histories, the categories of interpretation of risks and stress at work and within the social-family contexts were structured, these allowed to recognize the reflexivity and meanings of the participants, from a subjective approach

Results
Comparison between genders did not demonstrate significant differences in age (30.6±5.6 vs. 31.4±5.4 years); schooling levels (5.28±0.8 vs. 5.24±0.62 years) 
The psychosocial and economic conditions of life and work were the main sources of stress for these participants. In the context of their work were: the low wage earned; the feeble lawfulness of their life insurance; their schedules and heavy workloads; the dangers and threats specific to their roles; and the power relationships. The majority reported symptoms such as: physical and emotional exhaustion, depersonalization signs and low self-esteem related to their accomplishments at work 
In the social and family environment the main sources of stress were: the socioeconomic circumstances and the problems with family functionality related to the work itself. The major concern of these workers was the security of their families “the risk is always present because that’s our job, but what worries me the most is my family, in case I die. The life insurance wouldn’t be enough at all” (public safety worker, 32 years old) 

Discussion
The reflexivity in these individuals works as a regulatory mechanism of the risk and stress in sight of the job insecurity and the fragile supports of confidence in abstract institutions.