| Abstract: | After the Second World War, Brazil went through a process of rapid industrialization: industries increased in size and new factories were built. Agriculture, started to diversify, and hand tools were replaced by machinery. As a result, a large number of new workers were needed. As their work tasks were unfamiliar and their training not good, work accidents and injuries at work increased. Statistical records of industrial accidents were started in 1969 and disclosed that in 1970 nearly 18% of industrial workers suffered accidents. A high proportion led to orthopaedic problems, 74-76% being back problems. Statistics for agricultural workers were not available, but a sample study in the state of Sao Paulo disclosed that 9-22% of workers suffered accidents, 54-65% by those working on sugar cane plantations. Preventive measures imposed by legislation were able to reduce these numbers and in 1984 the percentage of industrial workers suffering accidents fell to 3-84%. Legislation regarding the protection of workers from accidents is discussed and examples of the adopted preventive measures are presented. |
