"Ou morre ou fica aleijado" : um estudo sobre o corpo-si mutilado pelo trabalho terceirizado no setor elétrico em Minas Gerais

Abstract

The electricity sector is considered to be a very high risk for its workers when compared to other productive activities in the Brazilian national scenario. The situation is worsefor outsourced electricians who are, on average, 400% more likely to sufferfatal accidents in relation to the employees of the distribution companies and energy suppliers. This study aims to understand the impacts of outsourcing in the electric sector, in the state of Minas Gerais, based on the trajectory of six outsourced electricians who suffered a work accident with high voltage shocks, causing severe burns and consequent necrosis and mutilation of theirlimbs. It is an intervention research from the perspectives of the psychosociology of work and ergology. The methodology consisted of in-depth interviews, document analysis and production of technical assistance reports submitted to the Labor Court. The reflective description of the investigative path indicates a political engagement of the researcher with the theme field, in addition to other subjective aspects arising from the research activity. The results are presented in a literary tale format, an amalgamation of the trajectories of the subjects who participated in the research. Through the narrated facts, it is possible to deepen the reflections related to the precariousness of outsourced work, the overwhelming impacts of the mutilating accident in daily life and the impossibility to obtain reparation through judiciary measures. The discussion of the results is guided, notably, by the concept of selfbody. Through research scenes there is a dialogical discussion about the outsourcing of work, which leads to the following questions: Is the selfbody mutilated? What remains for the workman without his arms? Personal tragedy or planned obsolescence? Final considerations point to the impossibility of claiming more dignified work, even if not outsourced, in the context of the commercialization of eletricity, which, it is believed, should be a social right, instead of a product that generates profit through exploration of surplus value.