ABSTRACT
The present study seeks to examine the importance of contextualized training in the acquisition of safety behaviours of a group of workers in the area of sanitation of a municipalized service. With this training process we intend to develop their working activity skills regarding self-analysis and self-learning so they can also be players in the safety of their own working environment. This approach has its roots in the "ergonomics activity" tradition and follows similar orientations of some work psychology projects: professional training is always designed in constant dialogue with ergonomics work analysis and promotes a participatory transformation process. Through the activity analysis and work accidents reports in the sanitation sector, two major themes were identified that were also used in the developed training: (l) work in confined spaces and (2) adopted working posture and manual cargo handling. The training process was designed based on a model alternating between theoretical expositive sessions and sessions of self-analysis, supported during work, and sessions of collective analysis and discussion (problem-situations, using work activity video analysis for a proper accountability). The training process ended with the formalization of proposals to improve working conditions. All the proposals for improvement were presented, discussed and negotiated collectively with the local
manager, the administration and the board of directors. A subsequent analysis confirmed that all the proposals were made. Seven months later we came back to reanalyze work activity and we identified relevant differences in safety behaviors. This was considered as a result of the new activity's risks representation, carried out by the sanitation workers. We concluded that the participation of all the system's stakeholders (workers and people in charge) is very important when designing training procedures aiming at promoting safety.
