The impact of NR-36 on the health of workers in slaughterhouses

a case study

Abstract

This case study analyzes the impacts of NR-36 on the health of workers in Santa Catarina’s meatpacking industry, based on the author’s experience as a judge in the Joaçaba Labor Court (TRT12). Between 2008 and 2010, the Court registered a high number of lawsuits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) among meatpacking workers. Starting in 2009, actions by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Labor through a civil lawsuit and the subsequent implementation of NR-36 led to significant changes in work organization, including reduced work pace, implementation of ergonomic breaks, and mechanization of high-risk activities. Analysis of expert reports from 2020 reveals a drastic reduction in CTS cases, demonstrating the effectiveness of NR-36 in preventing this type of occupational disease. The results reinforce the importance of prevention as a fundamental pillar in guaranteeing workers’ health and quality of life, aligned with the objectives of the “Trabalho Seguro” Program.