3 - DIFERENÇAS ENTRE AVALIAÇÕES PSICOSSOCIAL, PSICOLÓGICA E NR-01

Summary

This transcript explains the difference between psychosocial assessments and psychological evaluations required by regulations like NR1, NR33, and NR35. It highlights how psychosocial assessments are focused on understanding workers' emotional health in high-risk environments, while psychological evaluations dive deeper into internal psychological traits relevant to job roles. The key distinction is that NR1 does not require these assessments or evaluations, focusing instead on general workplace safety guidelines. The speaker stresses that only psychologists should conduct psychosocial assessments and psychological evaluations, especially when tests are involved, to ensure proper evaluation of workers' fitness for specific job functions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Psychosocial evaluation is focused on assessing the emotional health of workers in high-risk jobs like confined space work (NR33) and working at heights (NR35).
• 😀 Psychosocial evaluations aim to determine if a worker is fit for the specific emotional demands of high-risk activities, such as stress and anxiety caused by the tasks.
• 😀 These evaluations are included in the **PCMSO** (Occupational Health Medical Control Program) and are part of the pre-employment, periodic, and post-incident medical exams.
• 😀 The evaluation results in a **psychosocial report** that helps determine whether the worker is fit for the high-risk role, alongside the Occupational Health Certificate (ASO).
• 😀 While medical professionals can conduct psychosocial evaluations, psychologists are the preferred professionals for more accurate and thorough assessments.
• 😀 Psychological evaluation is more in-depth, going beyond psychosocial factors to assess internal traits like attention, stress resilience, and cognitive abilities relevant to the job.
• 😀 Psychological testing may be used to assess traits such as attention for jobs that require heightened focus, like driving or operating machinery.
• 😀 The key difference between psychosocial and psychological evaluations is that the latter includes psychological tests to evaluate internal traits, whereas psychosocial evaluation is focused on emotional health in relation to job risk.
• 😀 Both types of evaluations (psychosocial and psychological) result in reports that inform whether a worker is fit for the job, providing complementary information to the ASO.
• 😀 **NR1** focuses on risk management and identification, not individual worker fitness, meaning no formal evaluation or psychological testing is required under this regulation.

Q & A

What is the main difference between a psychocial evaluation and a psychological evaluation in compliance with regulatory standards?

The main difference is that a psychocial evaluation focuses on assessing the emotional health of a worker in relation to high-risk activities, as defined by the regulatory standards (e.g., NR33 and NR35). In contrast, a psychological evaluation is more in-depth and includes the assessment of internal traits like attention and cognitive abilities, often involving psychological testing.

Why was the psychocial evaluation introduced in occupational health regulations?

The psychocial evaluation was introduced to address the emotional health of workers engaged in high-risk activities such as confined spaces (NR33) or working at heights (NR35). These activities were identified as causing stress and anxiety, thus requiring the inclusion of a psychocial evaluation to monitor the emotional well-being of workers.

What is the role of a psychologist in conducting a psychocial evaluation?

A psychologist is the preferred professional for conducting psychocial evaluations, even though such evaluations may not require psychological testing. The psychologist’s role is to assess the emotional health of the worker and determine whether they are fit to perform specific high-risk tasks.

Why does the script emphasize the importance of a psychologist conducting psychocial evaluations?

The script emphasizes that a psychologist is the most suitable professional for psychocial evaluations because they are trained to assess emotional and mental health effectively. This is considered more appropriate than having a doctor, who may lack the specialized training in evaluating psychological factors in work-related stress.

What is the primary purpose of psychocial and psychological evaluations in relation to occupational health regulations?

Both psychocial and psychological evaluations aim to determine if a worker is fit or unfit to perform certain tasks, with the results forming part of the medical certification (ASO) process. They contribute to ensuring that the worker’s mental health is suitable for the job at hand, especially in high-risk work environments.

What does NR1 involve, and how is it different from the psychocial and psychological evaluations?

NR1, which pertains to risk management in the workplace, does not require a psychocial or psychological evaluation or a report on whether the worker is fit for work. The main focus of NR1 is on identifying and managing risks rather than assessing individual workers' mental health.

Can a psychocial evaluation substitute a psychological evaluation under regulatory standards?

No, a psychocial evaluation cannot substitute a psychological evaluation. While both evaluations are aimed at assessing a worker's fitness for work, the psychological evaluation is more in-depth, assessing cognitive and psychological traits that may be required for specific roles (e.g., attention for drivers), while the psychocial evaluation focuses on the worker’s emotional health in relation to high-risk tasks.

Is psychological testing required for psychocial evaluations in high-risk work environments?

No, psychological testing is not a requirement for psychocial evaluations. Psychocial evaluations mainly assess emotional health and stress factors associated with high-risk activities, without necessarily involving tests designed to measure psychological traits like attention or cognitive abilities.

How do NR33 and NR35 relate to psychocial evaluations in occupational health?

NR33 and NR35 are regulatory standards for high-risk activities such as working in confined spaces and at heights. These activities are known to cause stress and anxiety in workers, which is why psychocial evaluations are required to monitor the emotional health of workers engaged in such tasks.

What does a psychocial evaluation result in, and why is it important?

A psychocial evaluation results in a psychocial report (laudo), indicating whether a worker is fit or unfit for specific tasks. This report is important because it helps ensure that workers are not placed in positions that could exacerbate mental health issues, ensuring workplace safety and regulatory compliance.