After 24 years of implementation, the list of occupational diseases, a fundamental instrument for identifying and recognizing illnesses resulting from work activities, has undergone adjustments to accurately reflect the health risks emerging in the professional environment.
Recently, the Ministry of Health incorporated 165 pathologies into the new list of occupational diseases by means of Ordinance GM/MS No. 1,999 of November 27, 2023. These include Covid-19, mental health illnesses (burnout, anxiety, depression), musculoskeletal disorders and some types of cancer.
According to information from the federal government, the number of diagnosis codes for these diseases has increased from 182 to 347. Also, according to data from the Ministry of Health’s Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), the Unified Health System (SUS) dealt with almost 3 million cases of occupational diseases between 2007 and 2022, with the majority of notifications, 52.9%, relating to serious illnesses caused by work.
The survey also shows that 26.8% were caused by exposure to biological material; 12.2% by accidents involving venomous animals; and 3.7% by repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Finally, there are already more than 390,000 reported cases this year alone.
The new list of occupational diseases will cover the entire working population, regardless of whether they are urban or rural, or whether they work formally or informally. This is an important move, as it helps to identify, prevent and properly treat diseases related to work activities.
The idea is that improving the list will contribute to structuring assistance and surveillance that will enable safer and healthier workplaces.
As a result, employers will have to consider some additional measures or even adopt new practices to ensure compliance with the guidelines. They must, for example, revisit and eventually update their internal occupational health and safety policies, establishing new protocols for preventing, identifying and reporting the diseases included on the list.
It is essential that companies start investing in robust occupational health programs, which include regular medical examinations and monitoring of workers’ health, especially their mental health. To do this, they can also partner with psychologists and/or other specialized health services.
In addition, it is also understood that they should carry out regular training to educate professionals about preventive measures and the importance of reporting any symptoms to the employer.
It is essential that companies are aware of the legal implications of the list and ensure compliance with the new regulations. To do this, they should enlist the help of labor law professionals who are on hand to guide the adoption of the necessary measures.
Companies must therefore align their organizational culture with the Ministry of Health’s new requirements, providing a suitable working environment and combating risks to workers’ physical and mental health. This will bring benefits not only to employees, but also to companies through increased productivity, engagement, performance and employee commitment.
If you have any questions on the subject, our labor team is available to answer them.
