The activity of occupational health technicians in metallurgical companies at Osasco/SP and region

Author(s)

Karina Sami Yamamoto Inoue

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR)
• Defense date: 2012-09-06

Examining board members

Rodolfo Andrade de Gouveia Vilela; José Marçal Jackson Filho; Maria da Penha Costa Vasconcellos

• Advisor: Rodolfo Andrade de Gouveia Vilela

Abstract

In Brazil, the responsability of protecting workers\' health and ensuring their safety is assigned to the Service Serviço Especializado em Segurança e Medicina do Trabalho (SESMT) - Occupational Health and Safety Specialized Service. For that purpose, this Service must diagnose risk situation to which workers are exposed in the productive process developed in such line of business. Safety conditions have to be monitored, aiming reduction of risks existent in that economic activity or, when possible, lts complete elimination. Considering the safety and health professionals that compose the SESMT team, the Técnico de Segurança do Trabalho (TST) - Occupational Safety Technician - has a closer contact with manufacturing site workers, therefore the TST has a better knowledge of working conditions to which they are exposed. The present research aimed knowing the TST\'s activity, not only its content, but also and most importantly, variabilities, difficulties and limitations faced by the TST during its everyday work. For that purpose, it was used the method Análise Coletiva do Trabalho (ACT) - Work Collective Analysis -, which has as a main principle the presupposition that it is the worker, and not the researcher, who withholds the knowledge about the work in progress at the manufacturing site. In that manner, the worker has a central role in this method, bringing information of his professional practice, its characteristics and impediments. Three groups of TST were gathered for the ACT to take place. Participants were stimulated to talk about their professional activity with the least interference possible. lt was possible to realize that TST activity is far distant of what is determined by current legislation, specifically considering Norma Regulamentadora 4 - regulatory norm N° 4 -, being pervaded by limitations and impediments that blocks TST possibility of action, obstructing the improvement of working conditions at metallurgical manufacturing site and, in addition to that, contributing to the development of illnesses, primarily mental illnesses, among TST. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/03603-0 - The activity of occupational safety and health technicians at metallurgic industries in Osasco/São Paulo area
• Grantee: Karina Sami Yamamoto Inoue
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master