Abstract
This essay aims at reflecting on the theoretical-methodological contributions that enabled the production of a “tool box” for supporting research and interventions articulated with workers’ training strategies. We started by highlighting the influence of the social capital built in Brazil by the popular education and workers’ health movements, which advocate a critical cooperation between intellectuals and workers, aspiring to transform life and work situations. In this direction, it was fundamental to incorporate the concepts and practices of “the point of view of the activity” and of the Expanded Research and Intervention Community (CAPI - Comunidade Ampliada de Pesquisa e Intervenção) to develop training practices that lead to health promotion through work situations. Such approach recognizes that the workers themselves, by exchanging experiences with the researchers, and through the development of their investigative capacity, can produce means of analysis and of work transformation. It demonstrates the value of a common patrimony of concepts and, particularly, of an ethical and epistemological perspective according to which the understanding ↔ transformation of work situations and health promotion are only possible through the synergy between the disciplines knowledge and the cognizance invested in the activity.
Keywords:
occupational health; workers training; work activity; Expanded Community of Research and Intervention; health promotion