Occupational health and safety conditions of wood industry workers in southern

Improvement of working conditions in the field of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a key issue and subject of scientific studies and governmental actions in Brazil. Despite all efforts already taken some economic sectors still reveal improvement opportunities. This can be illustrated by the wood production chain in the mid-south region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, where rudimentary methods for eucalypt harvesting, transporting and handling are applied. By means of a qualitative research this study aims at identifying working conditions on that region within that specific economic activity. A field research was conducted in order to find out the views of land owners, employees and OHS specialists concerning those conditions. Among surveyed individuals misleading and a conflicting positions were found which were later compared with the findings of governmental official sources. Our study is part of a broader research project jointly carried out by two Brazilian institutions, namely, Federal University of Rio Grand