The book Psychosocial Risk Factors at Work brings together information and practical tools related to current legal requirements, offering support for diagnosis, prevention and data-driven decision-making, with a focus on promoting safer organizational environments. The book also presents an international diagnostic methodology, validated by Unicamp, structured into seven domains.
The way companies manage the psychological well-being of employees is changing in Brazil. Since the update of NR-01, a standard which made the identification and assessment of psychosocial risks mandatory within the Risk Management Program (RMP) and the Action Plan, mental health management is officially part of the legal obligations of organizations.
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It is in this context that the book Psychosocial Risk Factors at Work appears, written by Dr. Marco Aurélio Bussacarini, doctor specializing in occupational medicine from USP, and by Maristela Izilda Maia, psychoanalyst specializing in management. The work describes how working conditions can have a direct impact on the emotional balance of workers and presents structured guidelines for preventive action by companies, based on the clinical and academic experience of the authors.
The content has been prepared in accessible language, aimed at business managers, human resources managers, security technicians, accountants and OSH professionals, thus facilitating their practical application in the business context. Readers thus have support to understand and address psychosocial risks in the daily life of companies, both from a legal and people management point of view.
When mental health is also good business
Pressure for results, long working hours, lack of recognition, authoritarian leadership and job insecurity are part of a list of factors recognized by the specialized literature as psychosocial risks. According to Dr. Marco Aurélio Bussacarini, these elements “constitute a set of conditions that go well beyond daily stress and which, when unmanaged, can lead to mental illness, reduced productivity and increased sick leave.”
Data from the World Health Organization indicates that Brazil is among the countries with the highest rates of anxiety and depression, representing a public health challenge but also a significant economic impact for businesses.
The work highlights that preventive management practices generate direct benefits, such as improving organizational climate, greater ability to retain talent and strengthening company reputation – points highlighted by Dr Bussacarini when analyzing the impacts of adopting structured mental health programs.
The book also presents the diagnostic methodology validated by Unicamp, based on the British HSE-IT (Health and Safety Executive Indicator Tool) model. The Brazilian version was adapted by Professor Dr Sérgio Roberto de Lucca and organizes the diagnosis into seven areas, allowing the data to be transformed into structured actions.
A new look at work and people
In addition to the technical foundations, the work offers a structured analysis of the relationship between human beings and the work environment. For Dr Bussacarini, “psychosocial risks have always been present; current progress lies in the availability of tools and data that allow us to understand them and act coherently. Companies that adhere to this model tend to achieve better productivity and sustainability indicators.”
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