Occupational Health Surveillance: a study in the light of Ministerial Directive nº 3.120/98

ABSTRACT The worker's health is a field of practices and knowledge of theoretical-methodological approach in public health, whose object is the health-disease process of man in his relation with work. The main actions on occupational health surveillance and prevention of accidents were analyzed. The theoretical reference was based on the philosophical current of dialectical and historical materialism of worker's health. From the interviews, reflections and testimonies of Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador (Cerest/RJ) professionals were obtained for content analysis. The results reveal important gaps that affect the current actions in this area, regarding the distance between theoretical knowledge, its apprehension and its application.