en.Wedoany.com Reported - Institutions such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) were established in 1919, and early accident compensation laws (such as Brazil's Law No. 3,724 of 1919 and the CLT of 1943) were successively enacted, laying the legal foundation for occupational safety. The initial phase focused on accident consequences and the training of professionals.
Brazil's Regulatory Standards (NRs), signed in 1978, are considered a milestone, providing mandatory guidelines for occupational safety and health, with NR-12 (Machinery and Equipment Safety) and NR-13 (Boilers and Pressure Vessels) being particularly critical. NR-12 is central to this evolution, requiring that safety be integrated from the machine design stage. Within this standard framework, a series of standards and guidelines allow designers to understand component reliability indicators in advance and utilize technology for monitoring during operation.
Over time, the standards have been continuously updated to adapt to new technologies and practices. For example, recent updates to NR-12 have incorporated requirements for automation, safety sensors, and ergonomics. Before 2010, NR-12 contained only general requirements with some integration with international standards; however, after that, particularly from 2017 onwards, principles from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) were adopted, making structured risk assessment mandatory.
With the latest updates, descriptions of safety devices (such as physical barriers, emergency stop buttons, presence sensors, and enclosed systems) have been included, further enhancing safety in industrial environments. Technological advancements have enabled the integration of safety systems with artificial intelligence, industrial automation, and remote monitoring, capable of predicting failures and taking preventive measures. The standards also mandate formal training, certification of safety devices, machine technical documentation, protection of moving parts, and additional protection requirements for high-risk machinery such as presses, injection molding machines, and saws. In the current phase, standardization is more proactive, based on risk prevention and the continuous integration of cutting-edge technologies.
Between 2019 and 2021, the Brazilian federal government clarified rules for users and manufacturers, relaxed certain requirements in some areas, and sought greater alignment with international standards. The operation of used and imported machinery was also precisely redefined. These advancements have fostered a genuine safety culture, where companies, in addition to complying with standards, have begun to value and invest in training, ergonomics, and accident prevention actions.
Beyond adopting standards such as ISO 45001 to promote globalization and a comprehensive approach, digitalization and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also used to identify risks in real-time before accidents occur. New technologies essentially utilize the latest resources, including connecting sensors with daily data analysis to avoid unnecessary downtime and even potential accidents; artificial intelligence, industrial automation, and remote monitoring can predict failures and take measures to address both physical and digital risks. These innovations are already being applied on the factory floor.
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