Cerest performance in the actions of occupational health surveillance in the sugarcane industry

Abstract

The Reference Centers in Workers' Health (Cerest) have, as one of their priorities, actions of occupational health surveillance as an articulator of interventions in the relationships between the work process and health. With the growth of the sugarcane industry in the State of São Paulo, the consequent increase in jobs in this sector, and the health risks that exist in that work environment, the intervention of Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - National Health System) becomes absolutely necessary, in partnership with other governmental agencies, to control the risks and provide full assistance concerning the health of these workers. This study reports the experience of the Cerest of the city of Bauru during the actions of occupational health surveillance in the sugarcane industry, specifically the processing plant. Seventeen plants are in the catchment area of Bauru, but so far seven have been audited. Among the irregularities found, we can cite: unsafe equipment, lack of an ergonomic report, lack of proper protection to confined workers. We must emphasize the political will of the Municipal Department of Bauru as one element that facilitated the implementation of the actions; however, the inexperience, the lack of knowledge, the difficulties in the relations between institutions within and outside the SUS, and the vast complexity of the sector are major obstacles to be overcome.