Intensification and prolongation of the working journey in industries of slaughter and meat processing and their impact on workers' health

Abstract

Industries of slaughter and meat processing have assumed great economic importance in the national scene, however, the hard working conditions in those sectors cause the illness of many workers. This study's aim was to identify the characteristics of work in the agro-industries of the state of Santa Catarina and to analyze the relationship between these organizations and their workers' health. This research is qualitative in nature and a descriptive exploratory study. The instruments used for collecting information were records of a field diary, made in the course of participant observation and also semi-structured interviews with 17 workers and 14 health professionals. As a result of the study, it was observed that in despite of the attempts of inspection and regulation of labor activities in the agro-industrial sector, there has been a process of intensification and prolongation of the working journey, which are the main characteristics of that kind of work in the studied region. Thus, a close relationship became clear between productive activities in slaughter and meat processing industries and illness among workers of the sector.