The recent meeting of the Permanent Tripartite Paritarian Commission (CTPP) in Brasília, DF, held on March 26th and 27th, encompassed various aspects of regulatory standards NR-20 and NR-22, reflecting a concerted effort to address psychosocial risks.
Psychosocial Risks: A Growing Concern
The Group of Tripartite Study (GET) focused on psychosocial risks associated with work. Their final report highlighted the need to address these risks comprehensively. As workplaces evolve, it becomes essential for companies to incorporate psychosocial risks into their risk management strategies. The GET emphasized the importance of:
- Inclusion in Risk Management: Companies should explicitly include psychosocial risks in their overall risk management processes. This ensures a holistic approach to workplace safety.
- Awareness and Training: Promoting awareness and providing training to all stakeholders—employees, managers, and supervisors—regarding psychosocial risks.
- Effective Response Strategies: Developing effective strategies to prevent and manage psychosocial issues, such as stress, harassment, and work overload.
Government Stance and Proposed Actions
The government reaffirmed that psychosocial risks related to work must be an integral part of the Occupational Risk Management, as outlined in NR-1. The proposal is to further explore this topic through the revision of Chapter 1.5 of NR-1.
Additionally, workers advocated for the creation of a specific regulation solely addressing psychosocial risks at work. This reflects the increasing diagnoses of mental and behavioral disorders due to workplace stress, harassment, and excessive workload. In 2022, approximately 190,000 disability benefits were attributed to psychosocial problems, with 10% directly related to work.
NR-22 Amendments
The CTPP approved a five-year grace period for compliance with item 22.24.14 of the new NR-22, which deals with safety and health in mining. Additionally, the deadline for item 22.24.3, which prohibits certain installations downstream of dams susceptible to flooding, will be extended by 90 days beyond the initial deadline set by the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
A National Tripartite Thematic Commission (CNTT of NR-22) will be established to address these matters.
NR-20 Implementation Timeline
The implementation timeline for item14.1 of Annex IV (Occupational Exposure to Benzene in Automotive Fuel Retail Stations) of NR-20 was also discussed. This item pertains to occupational exposure to benzene in fuel-related work. The CTPP explored ways to reduce cases of Repetitive Strain Injuries / Musculoskeletal Disorders among workers involved in loading and unloading goods in container stuffing activities.