Segurança e saúde do trabalho em fumicultores com certificação do sistema de gestão integrado

Abstract

At tobacco farming, the Production Integration System is adopted between rural producers and industry, some holders of the Integrated Management System certification. The Integrated Management System includes the Management System in Occupational Health and Safety, aiming to attend all the workers involved in the different production processes, including suppliers and subcontractors. Systematic evaluation through strategic planning and subsequent critical analysis of the direction are requirements for system’s continuous improvement and certification’s maintenance. The present study had the objective of elaborating a diagnosis on Occupational Safety and Health in tobacco workers in a municipality of the Regional Nucleus of União da Vitória – PR, linked to the industries with Integrated Management System certification. The research with Multiple Case Study methodology was based on a questionnaire involving the theme Occupational Health and Safety. The study covered eleven agricultural holdings that directly involve 29 rural workers engaged in tobacco farming, who also produce tobacco in Production Integration System with three different industries. The hypothesis that the integrated tobacco workers to the Integrated Management System industries would be trained to prevent the risks associated with the tobacco growing activity of which they are exposed was not confirmed. It was diagnosed that the tobacco industry recognizes the risks of the activity, but does not assume joint responsibility with the suppliers of raw material that supports the whole chain of tobacco production. The differentiation in the approach of the topic Occupational Safety and Health was not observed among the industries with Integrated Management System certification and industry without this certification. It can be concluded that the most effective way to reduce the risks associated with tobacco-growing activity is to make the issue Occupational Safety and Health part of the worker’s everyday life. In this way, the commitment of different institutions in the search for solutions that meet the needs and particularities of these workers becomes crucial.