Brazil has a Federal Ergonomic Standard [1] enacted in 1990 that attracts the attention of practitioners in occupational health and safety fields because it is viewed symbolically as a political gain and because of its technical advances. The 1990 ergonomic standard modified a former one that was issued within a set of 28 occupational health and safety regulations established in 1978 [2]. This article focuses on the social and historical steps in a persistent workers' struggle for a healthier work environment in the late 1980s that resulted in this federal standard as a “command-and-control” regulation pioneering a wide tripartite process of policy-making in Brazil.
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References
1.
The Federal Ergonomic Standard was issued by Executive Order Number 3,751 of November 23, 1990 of the Ministry of Labor. It was published on November 26, 1990 in the D.O.U.—Brazil's official state press.
2.
The set of 28 “NRs” were established by Executive Order Number 3214 of June 8, 1978. At the time, an ergonomic standard was issued as NR17. The 28 occupational health and safety regulations can be found in Campanhole and Campanhole, 1998. Consolidacao das Leis do Trabalho e Legislacao Complementar (Consolidation of Labor Law and Complementary Legislation). 100a. ed.Atlas, Sao Paulo.
3.
According to Assuncao and Rocha (1994; p. 468), it was only after 1985 that the “tenossinovitis” found among data-entry operators was associated with work at VDUs (Video Display Units) in some scientific papers in Brazil. Before that, there was some evidence of the work-relatedness of upper-limb MSDs among a few other groups of workers.
4.
The Ministry of Social Security enacted Executive Order Number 4,062 on August 6, 1987 recognizing that “tenossinovitis of data-entry operators” was a work-related disease. The descriptive history of the data-entry operators' struggle for promulgation of this executive order by the Ministry of Social Security in 1987 was reported in detail by RochaL. E. (1989) in her master's dissertation, entitled, Tenossinovite como doenca do trabalho no Brasil: a atuacao dos trabalhadores (Tenossinovitis as an occupational disease in Brazil).
5.
The particular history of the social movement for a federal ergonomic standard that would regulate the work environment of this group of workers reported in this article is based on: a) personal interviews with three actors in this history: Amed, (2002); Maciel (1999); and Dutra (1999); b) two official talks given by Martins (1995a and 1995b), a chapter of a book written by Assuncao and Rocha (1994); c) Baixo's master's dissertation (1994); and an official talk given by Tavares (1993).
6.
The workforce characteristics were discussed by Tavares (1993) and Dutra (interview, 1999).
7.
The technical information reported here is found in the manual guide organized by the local data-entry operators union of Sao Paulo (SindPD/SP): SindPD/SP (1987). Doencas profissionais em processamento de dados (Professional Diseases in Data-Processing). IMESP, Sao Paulo. 20 pp.
8.
Tavares (1993) reported the inclusion of these clauses in the contract language of some state data-processing enterprises.
9.
The notorious aspects of the decade after1980 in the history of the Brazilian labor movement are discussed by several authors, such as: Porchmann (1998). Acao sindical no Brasil: transformacoes e perspectivas (Labor activism in Brazil: transformations and perspectives). Sao Paulo em Perspectiva, Fundacao Seade Sao Paulo, 12(1): 10–23; CominA. A. and CastroN. A. (1998). As novas esferas de regulacao do trabalho e o dilema sindical (The new scopes of labor regulations and the union dilemma). Sao Paulo em Perspectiva, Fundacao Seade Sao Paulo, 12(1): 45–52.; and BrescianiL. P. (1994). Da resistencia a contratacao: tecnologia, trabalho e acao sindical no Brasil (From resistance to negotiation: technology, work and union action)CNI—SESI/DN, Brasilia, 263 pp.
10.
The emergence and characteristics of the new unionism movement in Brazil are described by AntunesR. (1995). O novo sindicalismo no Brasil (The new unionism in Brazil). Pontes. Sao Paulo. 95 pp.
11.
The changes in labor negotiation in the 1980s are discussed in PradoA. (1998). Mudancas na negociacao sindical nos anos recentes (Changes in union negotiation in the recent years). Sao Paulo em Perspectiva. Fundacao Seade Sao Paulo. 12(1): 30–44.
12.
The discussion of the “new” union role as a critical social actor in the 1980s is presented in BarelliW. (1990). Trabalhadores influenciam nas decisoes (Workers influence in the decisions). Sao Paulo em Perspectiva, Fundacao Seade Sao Paulo, 4(1): 6–10.
13.
The local union of Rio Grande do Sul, for example, was organized at first as an association in 1977, and was transformed into a union organization in 1986 (Tavares, 1993). And the local organization of Sao Paulo was constituted as an association in 1977 and got its union recognition in 1985 (Dutra, 1999). Besides the local organizations, the national organization was created in 1988 as “Fenadados” (Tavares, 1993). It was only in the 1990s that data-entry operators who work in banks were transferred to the banking workers union's representation by juridical dispute (Dutra, 1999).
14.
The national committee's role and dynamics were reported in an interview by Maciel (1999).
15.
A brief description of the role carried out by these workers for recognition of the disease as work-related and for a fair diagnosis and treatment, and the struggle for the enactment of the 1990 Ergonomic Standard was found in AssuncaoA. A. and RochaL. E. (1994). Agora … ate namorar fica mais dificil: uma historia de lesoes por esforcos repetitivos (Now … even cuddling is more difficult: a history of repetitive strain injuries). In: BuschinelliJ.T.P.RochaL. E. and RigottoR. M. (orgs) Isto e trabalho de gente?: Vida, doenca e trabalho no Brasil. Sao Paulo: Vozes, 1994, pp. 461–493.
16.
Mentioned in Tavares (1993) and Rocha (1989).
17.
CardosoA. J.TavaresJ. A. D. and CastroC. A. J. (1984) Tenossinovite: uma doenca profissional dos digitadores (Tenossinovitis: a professional disease of data-entry operators). Porto Alegre, SINDPD/RS, 1984. In: V Congresso Nacional de Profissionais de Processamento de Dados. Belo Horizonte, 1984.
18.
Tenossinovitis was the first musculoskeletal disorder diagnosed among the data-entry operators. Later on, “RSI”—Repetitive Strain Injuries, or in Portuguese, “LER”—Lesoes por Esforcos Repetitivos was the term adopted officially. The term “LER” was first used in 1986 during the I State Meeting of Data-Processing Professionals about Health in Rio Grande do Sul (Assuncao and Rocha, 1994; and Tavares, 1993). Currently, there has been a governmental order (Ordem de Servico Number 606, published on August 20, 1998) that imposed another denomination term: “DORT”—”Disfuncoes Osteo-musculares Relacionadas ao Trabalho” that would be the equivalent translation of “Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders.” However, labor unions still resist adopting this latter term and prefer using “LER” or “RSI.” For more details on the history and debate around work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Brazil until the early 1990s, see Assuncao and Rocha (1994).
19.
The role of the local union was specifically described by Tavares (1993); and it was also mentioned by Assuncao and Rocha (1994) and in Rocha (1989).
20.
The earlier stages of the history were reported by Maciel (1999) and Amed (2002) in personal interviews.
21.
The study on the municipal data-processing office of Sao Paulo was reported in: Maciel. 1985. Projeto condicoes de trabalho dos empregados em digitacao: uma intervencao. Fundacentro—Atualidades em Prevencao de Acidentes. V.16; N 19, pp. 17–18.
22.
Dutra (1999), the unionist of the local SindPD/SP reported this concern as a “job issue,” emphasizing that the occupational health issue was not clear at first.
23.
The radiation hypothesis was mentioned in phone interviews by Dutra (1999) and by Maciel (1999). Maciel (1984) elucidated the possible effects of radiation on this group of workers by publishing a review on the international literature: Projeto: condicoes de trabalho dos empregados em digitacao: as unidades de video e as radiacoes (Project: work conditions of the data-entry employees: the VDU and the radiation). Rev. Bras. de Saude Ocupacional. V.12; n. 48; pp. 32–35.
24.
Maciel reported this concern in the phone interview (1999) and published some papers about it: Maciel (1984) and Maciel (1985).
25.
This recommendation guide, which was a departure point for the specific items regulating some data-entry operators' working conditions in the ergonomic standard, was mentioned by Maciel (1999) who participated in its formulation.
26.
The two national health meetings were: 1) the II National Meeting in September 1987, in Salvador, Bahia; and 2) the III National Meeting in December 1988, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul.
27.
In the course of the process, the Ministry of Labor decided that a specific standard for a particular group of workers was not desired. Other groups would request the same treatment and it would not be feasible for the Ministry of Labor to embrace the policy (Maciel, 1999 and Baixo, 1994).
28.
AmedS.2002. Personal Interview on September 11.
29.
AssuncaoA. A.RochaL. E.1994. Capitulo 23: agora … ate namorar fica dificil: uma historia de lesoes por esforcos repetitivos (Chapter 23: now … even cuddling becomes difficult: a history of repetitive strain injuries). In: BuschinelliJ.T.P.RochaL. E.RigottoR. M., eds. Isto e trabalho de gente?: vida, doenca e trabalho no Brasil (This is the people's work: life, illness and work in Brazil). Vozes, Rio de Janeiro, pp. 461–493.
30.
BaixoM.L.I.1994. Analise juridica da NR17: instrumento por melhores condicoes de trabalho e consequente produtividade (Juridical analysis of the NR17: a tool for better work conditions and resultant productivity). Master's Thesis. Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florianopolis.
31.
CampanholeA.CampanholeH. L.1998. Consolidacao das leis do trabalho e legislacao complementar (Consolidation of labor laws and complementary legislation). 100a ed.Atlas, Sao Paulo.
32.
CardosoA. J.TavaresJ.A.D.CastroC.A.J.1984. Tenossinovite: uma doenca profissional dos digitadores (Tenossinovitis: a professional disease of data-entry operators). SINDPD/RS, Porto Alegre. In proceedings of V Congresso Nacional de Profissionais de Processamento de Dadosî (V National Conference of Data-processing Professionals). HorizonteBelo, 1984.
33.
DutraP.1999. Phone interview on November 22.
34.
Fundacentro. 1986a. Digitadores reclamam de tenossinovite (Data-entry operators complain of tenossinovitis). Fundacentro Atual. Prev. Acid., 17(195): 10–11.
35.
Fundacentro. 1986. Tenossinovite devera ser reconhecida como doenca profissional (Tenossinovitis will be recognized as a professional disease). Fundacentro Atual. Prev. Acid., 17(198): 9.
36.
MacielR.H.M.1999. Phone interview on November 20.
37.
MacielR.H.M.1985. Consideracoes gerais sobre o trabalho de digitacao (General considerations upon the work on data-entry jobs). Rev. Bras. Saude Ocup., 13(50): 37–40.
38.
MacielR.H.M.1984. Projeto condicoes de trabalho dos empregadosem digitacao (Project: Work conditions of data-entry operators employees). Rev. Bras. Saude Ocupacional, 12(48): 32–35.
39.
MartinsM. C.1995a. Prevencao de lesoes por esforcos repetitivos: a norma regulamentadora 17 de ergonomia (Prevention of repetitive strain injuries: the ergonomic standard NR17). Talk presented in the Panel: NR17: historico e exigencias atuais. In: I Seminario Interinstitucional, Belo Horizonte, June/26th-29th/1995.
40.
MartinsM. C.RochaL. E.FerreiraM.Junior1995b. Prevencao de lesoes por esforcos repetitivos em digitacao: concepcao, implantacao e avaliacao da norma brasileira de ergonomia (Prevention of repetitive strain injuries in data-entry jobs: conception, implementation and evaluation of the Brazilian ergonomic standard). Proceedings, PREMUS, Montreal, Set/1995.
41.
RochaL. E.1989. Tenossinovite como doenca do trabalho no Brasil: a atuacao dos trabalhadores (Tenossinovitis as a work-related disease in Brazil: the workers' action). Sao Paulo, Master's Thesis. Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo.
42.
SindPD/SP. 1987. Doencas profissionais em processamento de dados (Professional diseases in data-entry jobs). IMESP, Sao Paulo. 20p.
43.
SindPD/RS. No date. LER: Lesoes por esforcos repetitivos (RSI: Repetitive Strain Injuries). APPD/SindPD/RS, Porto Alegre. 23p.
44.
TavaresJ.A.D.1993. LER e as experiencias no movimento sindical—historico, organizacoes e lutas (RSI and the experience of the labor movement—history, organization and struggle). Talk in the I Seminario Catarinense sobre Lesoes por Esforcos Repetitivos—LER (I Seminary on RSI in Santa Catarina). Florianopolis, Santa Catarina.
