HEALTHY NATURAL HEAT AND ITS IMPACTS ON WORKER HEALTH

Abstract

This study analyzes the recent changes to Brazil’s Regulatory Standards (Normas Regulamentadoras), focusing on NR 15, Annex 3, which addresses heat exposure in the workplace. The aim is to understand the impacts of these changes on workers exposed to natural heat, particularly in outdoor occupations such as agriculture and construction. The research was conducted through a literature review, document analysis of the updated legislation, and studies on occupational health. The findings indicate a significant increase in illnesses related to sun exposure, such as heatstroke and dehydration, highlighting real risks to workers’ physical integrity. In this context, the loosening of regulatory protections may represent a setback in social rights, conflicting with the principle of prohibition of social regression — a principle that, although not explicitly codified in Brazilian law, is widely accepted in legal doctrine and recognized in case law. This principle, built on the protection of the core of fundamental rights, seeks to prevent the suppression of already established guarantees, especially in the realm of social rights. The discussion also involves Articles 189 and 192 of the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws), which refer to unhealthy working conditions and corresponding hazard pay. The study concludes that regulatory protections must be reinforced and adapted to outdoor work conditions, requiring greater preventive action from both the State and employers.