Objetive:
to identify the distribution of sickness absenteeism among workers of a forestry company.
Method:
a cross-sectional study involving 883 workers from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We collected all medical certificates issued in the company during one year (2009). Basic descriptive statistics was adopted.
Results:
the population consisted mainly of young male workers with low schooling and a high job turnover. Rates of absenteeism: frequency index 3.65, gravity index 13.67, and absence time percentage 5.7%. The most prevalent causes of sickness absenteeism were linked to complains of the osteomuscular system (23,5%) followed by the respiratory system (14,3%), injuries, poisonings and other external causes consequences (9,2%) plus symptoms, signs and laboratory abnormal findings (9%). We could observe a considerable number of sickness absenteeism among rural workers, mainly due to osteomuscular and respiratory system problems (absence of 2203 days).
Conclusion:
the pathological profile found is in keeping with typical rural activities, that require great physical effort and workers have to cope with adverse working conditions.
occupational health; absenteeism; forestry; rural worker