Precarious work and occupational accidents: risks associated with outsourcing in the electric power sectorIntroduction: outsourced work in the electric power sector has peculiarities that demand consideration regarding worker’s safety.
Objective: to analyze the outsourcing impacts on labor precariousness and workers’ safety in the electricity distribution industry.
Methods: qualitative, descriptive study, carried out in three stages: documentary research, in-depth interviews and analysis of a fatal accident case. We used content analysis to explore the material collected, data treatment and interpretation.
Results: we identified that long working hours, lower wages, poor working conditions, reduced teams and lack of supervision are important to characterize the precariousness that puts the physical and mental integrity of outsourced workers at risk. We also identified that, despite being a hazardous activity, the outsourced workers do not exercise the right guaranteed to all employees to refuse to do an activity that puts their life at risk.
Conclusion: the results show that outsourcing in the electric power sector represents an increased risk of serious occupational accidents and deepens inequalities due to the differences between the treatment given to outsourced workers and the reserved for those directly employed by the company.
Keywords:
work; outsourced services; power sector; precarious employment; occupational health