RISKS TO WORKERS HEALTH AND GOOD WORK SAFETY PRACTICES IN THE MANUAL CUTTING OF SUGARCANE (Saccharum spp.): A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Manual cutting of sugarcane is an arduous activity, in which workers are exposed to long working hours and a work environment that presents multiple situations of risk to health. In this sense, this work aimed to carry out, through a bibliographic survey, the survey of the peculiarities of manual cutting of sugarcane, the risks to which cutters are exposed and the health problems to which these workers are subject. It also raised the legais standards that support the safety of these professionals' work and the challenges to ensure the effectiveness of this legislation and the implementation of good practices in this work activity. Therefore, a bibliographic research was conducted using the integrative review method. The results surveyed in the literature demonstrate the risks to which these workers are subjected, with a high workload, exposure to pollutants and high temperatures, deficient food and water replacement, among others. This situation has been associated with the emergence of various health problems in these workers, ranging from physical pain to DNA changes. In this context, it is necessary, in addition to effective inspection, to implement awareness-raising actions and good practices in this segment.