#SextouComNR – NR-15 Atividades Insalubres

Summary

In this 15th episode of the SSP channel's webseries, Léo Só, a work safety technician, discusses the crucial topic of insalubrity in the workplace as outlined in NR-15. Published in 1988 and revised 19 times, the norm now includes 13 annexes, each addressing specific insalubrious activities or conditions. Léo explains the concept of insalubrity, detailing the various annexes and their tolerance limits, emphasizing the health risks and additional insalubrity pay workers receive. The video also touches on the importance of proper workplace adjustments over merely paying additional insalubrity wages, highlighting the need for companies to prioritize employee health and safety.

Takeaways

• 📚 This is the 15th episode of the web series discussing Brazilian labor regulations, focusing on Norma Regulamentadora (NR) 15, which is crucial for understanding workplace health and safety standards.
• 🔍 NR 15, published in 1988 and last amended in 2019, addresses insalubridade (unhealthful conditions) in the workplace and has been updated 19 times, with 13 annexes providing detailed guidelines for various insalubrious activities and conditions.
• 🚫 Activities are considered insalubrious if they exceed the tolerance limits set in Annexes 1, 2, 3, or 4, which have specific limits for noise, heat, radiation, and other factors.
• ⚠️ Annexes 6, 13, and 14 do not have tolerance limits; any exposure to the agents mentioned in these annexes characterizes the activity as insalubrious.
• 💼 The video emphasizes the importance of the labor inspector's role in determining insalubrity through on-site inspections and technical reports.
• 💰 Companies sometimes prefer to pay insalubrity allowances rather than make necessary workplace improvements, which can be cheaper in the short term but detrimental to workers' health.
• 💡 The video discusses the concept of insalubrity allowances, which are additional payments to workers exposed to insalubrious conditions, varying from 10% to 40% of the regional minimum wage, depending on the severity of insalubrity.
• 🔄 The script highlights that if multiple grades of insalubrity are present, the highest grade determines the insalubrity allowance.
• 🛠️ Elimination or neutralization of insalubrious agents stops the payment of insalubrity allowances, as the worker is no longer exposed to unhealthy conditions.
• 📈 The video provides an overview of each annex, detailing the specific tolerance limits and conditions that define insalubrious activities, such as noise levels, heat exposure, and chemical agents.
• 🏥 The final takeaway is the distinction between insalubrity and occupational disease, emphasizing that while insalubrity can lead to occupational diseases, not all insalubrious activities result in such diseases, and each has different legal and health implications.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the 15th episode of the SSP channel's webseries?

The main topic of the 15th episode is NR 15, which discusses insalubrity in the workplace, focusing on activities and operations that are considered unhealthy due to exceeding established tolerance limits.

How many amendments has NR 15 undergone since its publication?

NR 15 has undergone 19 amendments since its publication in 1988, with the last amendment being in 2019.

What are the 13 annexes of NR 15 and what do they address?

The 13 annexes of NR 15 address various themes related to insalubrity, including tolerance limits for noise, heat exposure, ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation, vibration, cold, wet environments, chemical agents, mineral dusts, and biological agents, among others.

What is the significance of exceeding the tolerance limits established in the annexes of NR 15?

Exceeding the tolerance limits in the annexes of NR 15 automatically characterizes the activities as insalubrious, meaning they are unhealthy for workers and require additional compensation or improvements to working conditions.

What is the additional compensation for workers exposed to insalubrious activities, and how is it calculated?

The additional compensation, known as the insalubrity supplement, can be 10%, 20%, or 40% depending on the agent and the degree of insalubrity. This percentage is added to the minimum wage of the region where the worker is employed.

Why do some companies prefer to pay insalubrity supplements instead of making necessary improvements?

Some companies prefer to pay insalubrity supplements because, in the short term, it can be a cheaper option than making the necessary improvements to eliminate or reduce the unhealthy working conditions.

What is the 'fator de dobra cinco' mentioned in the script, and how does it apply to noise exposure limits?

The 'fator de dobra cinco' or 'doubling factor of five' is used in the context of noise exposure limits, where the permissible exposure time is halved for every 5 decibels increase in noise level, up to a certain limit.

What is the purpose of an insalubrity inspection and how does it relate to the payment of insalubrity supplements?

An insalubrity inspection is conducted to characterize the working conditions as insalubrious if they meet certain criteria. The results of this inspection can lead to the cessation of insalubrity supplements if the conditions are improved or if the worker is no longer exposed to insalubrious conditions.

How does the presence of more than one insalubrious agent or exposure to more than one degree of insalubrity affect the insalubrity supplement?

If a worker is exposed to more than one insalubrious agent or degree of insalubrity, the insalubrity supplement is determined based on the agent or degree that entitles the worker to the highest supplement.

What is the difference between a laudo de insalubridade and a laudo de condições ambientais do trabalho?

A laudo de insalubridade is a report prescribed by NR 15 for labor purposes, focusing on the health risks associated with certain working conditions. A laudo de condições ambientais do trabalho is a report prescribed by preventive health legislation for social security purposes, focusing on the overall environmental conditions of the workplace.