Universalização da proteção à saúde e à segurança do trabalhador

Abstract

This monograph analyzes the historical, legal, and social development of occupational health and safety protections, focusing on the need for their universalization, particularly in the context of changing labor relations and increasing precarization. The research adopts the deductive method and employs bibliographic and documentary analysis techniques, based on specialized legal doctrine, national and international legislation, statistical data, and institutional reports. Initially, it demonstrates that labor rights—including those concerning workers' physical and mental integrity—emerged as a response to widespread exploitation, especially after the Industrial Revolution, becoming more robust through state intervention and workers' struggles. In Brazil, significant legal progress is noted, particularly with the Consolidation of Labor Laws and the 1988 Federal Constitution, which established health and safety as fundamental social rights. However, recent data from the Occupational Health and Safety Observatory, which recorded over 8.8 million work-related accidents and nearly 32,000 deaths between 2012 and 2024, reveal that these protections have yet to be fully effective. Notably, these figures exclude informal workers—a substantial portion of the Brazilian workforce—who are more exposed to occupational hazards due to precarious conditions. The study concludes that, although the legal framework is extensive, its effectiveness is limited, especially in light of recent deregulatory trends and the lack of inclusive public policies. Therefore, it advocates for expanding the scope of legal protections through structural reforms that encompass all forms of labor, reinforcing the principle of human dignity and promoting a truly universal and equitable model of labor development.