Montes Claros Regional closes Abril Verde by reinforcing the prevention of accidents and work-related illnesses

The Regional Health Superintendency (SRS) of Montes Claros ends this month with several actions to promote health, prevent morbidity and mortality, reduce risks and raise awareness among the population and municipal technical references on the prevention of accidents and illnesses related to work. Since its creation in 2021, the Green April Movement indicates that there has been an increase in understanding of workers’ rights, with the adoption of safety techniques in workplaces and supervision and regulation by the competent authorities.

In the SRS Montes Claros area of ​​activity, the actions were led by the Epidemiological Surveillance coordinator, Rita de Cássia Rodrigues, and the nursing intern, Thallyta de Sousa Lima. With lectures involving health workers and professionals from other areas, the municipal health departments of Taiobeiras, Mirabela, São João da Lagoa and Coração de Jesus were attended by SRS technical references. Other municipalities carried out mobilization actions in companies, health units and public places, drawing the population’s attention to the issue.

On May 3rd, in celebration of Labor Day, the Health Surveillance Coordination of São João do Pacuí will hold the Health and Safety at Work Seminar at the City Hall, starting at 9 am.

Rita Rodrigues points out that the mobilization of both employers and municipal technical references on safety and health at work are necessary initiatives throughout the year. “The month of April ends up being a time to reinforce mobilization actions, highlighting the need for different segments of society to discuss a topic that is present in everyday professional activities and in people’s daily lives.”

Data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan), maintained by the Ministry of Health (MS), indicate that, in 2023, 3,313 work-related diseases were registered in 54 municipalities in the SRS Montes Claros area of ​​operation. Serious accidents, which normally occur on the way from home to work or vice versa, predominated, totaling 1,695 notifications. Next were exogenous poisonings (888 cases); accidents with biological materials (477) and mental disorders (111).

In the period from January to April this year, 862 work-related injuries were registered in the 54 municipalities that make up the area of ​​activity of the Regional Health Superintendence of Montes Claros. The notifications are divided as follows: serious accident (426); exogenous intoxication (228); accidents with biological materials (136); cancer and mental disorder (31 cases for each condition); nine notifications related to Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs); and one case of pneumoconiosis, a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of dust and chemical substances (silicosis, aluminum, graphite or asbestos) in work environments.

The Epidemiological Surveillance coordinator, Rita Rodrigues, observes that “there is still a lot of underreporting of work accidents and, therefore, health professionals need to double their attention to this situation because, in the context of the Unified Health System (SUS), all people must be taken care of regardless of their situation in the job market.”

According to the Ministry of Health, at country level, between 2011 and 2022, Social Security data reveals that more than 7.5 million work accidents were reported. Of this total, men were victims in 5,050,836 accidents, while women accounted for 2,447,812. Considering this, in 2011, men had an accident rate of 70.86% and, in 2022, there was a rate of 64.16%. The percentage of women was 29.14% and, in 2022, 35.84%.

Despite the increase in the number of work accidents among men in 2022, women saw an increase of 22%, while men saw a reduction of almost 10%.

By Pedro Ricardo / Photo: SRS Montes Claros