Local surveillance of occupational accidents and diseases: A device to support workers’ health public services

Abstract

This article intends to report the initial results found in the implementation of a local monitoring system, on occupational accidents and diseases, in its first year, in the city of São João Del Rei, Brazil. This is a system built to work as support to the development of public health policies and workers health’s practices, in the public health system’s services. It can not only improve the information quality available, regarding to occupational accidents and diseases in the municipality, but also facilitate and guarantee the population access to workers’ health services; improve social control; and identify work situations that present or produce health hazards risks. The first results found confirmed our expectation regarding the improvement in the information quality, because it was possible to identify specificities about health and safety issues previously ignored by the municipality. The high incidence of work-related accidents among workers in the wood-furniture manufacturing sector, construction sector and, in the health area are some of the examples. The condition, here presented, reinforces the importance and benefits of implementing such a device. The assumption is that it will provide clues for research, interventions, and the development of assistance, prevention, promotion and surveillance practices, related to the workers’ health and safety, consequently improving the workers’ health public services offered to the locals.