MPT (Ministry of Manpower) started the Abril Verde campaign in 2022, to promote strengthening the health of workers in the SUS (Integrated Health System) and remind employers of the importance of publishing a work accident report (CAT) in Sinan (Informational Disease Information System). CAT is essential for workers injured or victims of occupational diseases to receive Social Security support, in addition to generating statistics on occupational accidents and collecting data for epidemiological control.

This April, MPT will promote messages on buses and billboards located on busy streets and streets in Campo Grande, Dourados, Três Lagoas and Bataguassu. The ad snippet carries the slogan: “Prevention is fundamental. Always protect yourself. Make sure your company provides safety equipment for everyone. Every work accident must be reported. Workers are invisible” and will be on display until the end of this month.

In addition, members of the Getrin-24 Working Group formed by several public institutions, including the Ministry of Manpower, on 7 and 8 April made technical visits to five main hospitals in Mato Grosso do Sul – Regional, University, Cassems , Unimed and Santa Casa – to reinforce the importance of CAT, the correct way to record these communications and the dangers of under-reporting for public policy development.

According to the Public Prosecutor and Regional Coordinator for the Defenders of the Work Environment (Codemat) MPT, Claudia Noriler, the campaign presents a window for debating the topic. “Communication is very important for us to implement strategies that aim to prevent accidents and occupational diseases”.

Since April 1, awareness messages have also been displayed on the BR-163, via MSVia’s MPT and CCR articulations, and will continue to be displayed until April 30 on 18 electronic panels.

Other articulations will be made through MPT’s social network, such as the launch of animations about work routines in meatpacking factories. The aim is to show how the absence of prevention and non-compliance with regulatory standards can affect the health of workers.

Also in April, a webinar will be held presenting data from the Occupational Safety and Health Observatory updated to December 2021. This tool, created by the MPT and the ILO (International Labor Organization), has free public data and technology to subsidize public policy for prevention of accidents and illnesses in the workplace.

In Mato Grosso do Sul, the Workers Health Reference Center and the Regional Psychological Council promote “Health in the workplace: Invisibility of mental illness” live. The virtual event will take place on April 6 at 7 p.m., and will be featured on the board’s YouTube page (youtube.com/c/CRP14MS).

On April 29, the 24th Region Regional Labor Court Judicial School will hold, on the Zoom platform, a “Green April and workplace safety challenges” seminar. Interested parties have until 12 noon on April 28 to register at the link www.trt24.jus.br/web/escola-judicial.

Work accident rate

Last year, Mato Grosso do Sul recorded 63 work-related deaths, a 27% increase compared to 2020, when 46 deaths were reported. The five professions with the most occupational accident cases in the state were: nursing technician with 582 notices, production line feeder with 454, janitor with 320 records, typical farm worker with 285 and truck driver, 276.

In this case, the number of accidents is also accelerated by 10%. In 2021, there were 7,841 notifications compared to 7,052 in the previous year. In statistics, absenteeism due to occupational diseases is considered, which is classified as an occupational accident. Illness increased by 13%, jumping from 327 cases in 2020 to 382 in 2021. The information is contained in the Workplace Accident Communication data online consultation system, which allows access to the Social Security information bank.

April Green

The month of April has two important dates on the subject of workplace accidents: World Health Day on April 7 and the Memorial of Victims of Accidents and Diseases at Work on April 28. The second date, initiated by Canadian trade unions, was chosen by the ILO to honor the 78 workers who died in mine explosions in the United States in 1969. In Brazil, Law no. 11,121, which created the National Day of Remembrance of Victims of Accidents and Diseases at Work, promulgated in May 2005.