There is some discussion on the relationship between social networks in work environments and their influence on service organization. We investigated the context of the Health Surveillance of Populations Exposed to Chemicals (VIGISOLO), a subsystem of Environmental Health Surveillance (VSA). This choice aimed to seize the right moment for incorporating adjustments experienced by VSA. For the construction of social networks, secondary data on the subsystem were collected; observations of the dynamics of work, interviews and questionnaires online were conducted. Data provided identification of chains of relationships between professionals and built representative sociograms of these links to federal, state and municipal government levels. The integration of sociograms allowed the construction of the collective network. This, consisting of 25 actors, characterized by having few interpersonal connections among the possible ones, indicating a low density network. Informal links stood out in small groups, usually associated with trust between individuals. This feature made it difficult to transfer information, compromising some work processes. The ability to identify weaknesses in the operational routine makes Social Network Analysis a methodological approach able to contribute to the service, lending itself as tool for management.
environmental health; social network analysis; health surveillance
