Understand what NR 29 is, who it applies to, the role of the OGMO, SESSTP and CPATP, the inspection of lifting equipment and the rules for dangerous cargo.
By: Vitória Willemann
Content based on the official text of NR 29 (MTP Ordinance No. 671/2022), consulted on 06/11/2026.
NR 29 is the Brazilian Regulatory Standard that sets out occupational safety and health measures for port work, both on board and on land. It applies to organised ports, public and private port facilities and back-port terminals. The current wording was approved by MTP Ordinance No. 671/2022 and has been in force since 1 September 2022.
| Topic | What NR 29 says |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Prevention measures for occupational safety and health in port work and risk management guidelines (item 29.1.1) |
| Who it applies to | Port work on board and on land, at public or private facilities, inside or outside the organised port, and back-port terminals (29.2.1) |
| Who is responsible | Port operators, service users, employers and the OGMO (29.3.1), as well as the port authority (29.3.6) |
| Safety service | SESSTP, set up by the OGMO for casual workers (29.5.1); SESMT for direct employees (29.6.1) |
| Committee | Joint CPATP, with a 2-year term and at least monthly meetings (29.7.3, 29.7.4 and 29.7.17) |
| Lifting equipment | Daily inspection by a trained operator, with records kept for at least 5 years (29.14.3 and 29.14.3.1) |
| Dangerous cargo | 20-hour training (29.27.6); explosives prohibited at port facilities (29.27.36) |
| Emergencies | Emergency Control Plan with at least 3 drills a year for each type of scenario, across all shifts (29.28.6) |
| Legal basis | MTP Ordinance No. 671 of 30/03/2022, in force from 01/09/2022 |
NR 29 is the Ministry of Labour and Employment's sector standard for work in ports. It covers both those who work on board vessels and those who work on land, on the quay, in warehouses and in yards.
Under item 29.2.1, the standard applies to public or private ports and port facilities, inside or outside the area of the organised port, and also to back-port terminals. At these terminals, only the items listed in 29.2.1.1 apply, such as those on machinery, dangerous cargo and lighting.
NR 29 does not replace the other standards. It refers, for example, to NR 1 (risk management), NR 6 (PPE), NR 12 (machinery) and NR 33 (confined spaces).
Responsibility is shared among several parties, and they must all cooperate with one another (29.3.1).
Each party must have its own Risk Management Programme (PGR, Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos) and share risk information with the others (29.4.1 to 29.4.4).
The SESSTP (Serviço Especializado em Segurança e Saúde do Trabalhador Portuário, the Specialised Port Worker Safety and Health Service) is set up by the OGMO to serve casual workers. The team size follows Table I of Annex I and is calculated from the average number of casual workers engaged in the previous year (29.5.1 and 29.5.4). The SESSTP inspects safety conditions before berthing and on board, and records the results in a report (29.5.7).
The CPATP (Comissão de Prevenção de Acidentes no Trabalho Portuário, the Port Work Accident Prevention Committee) is the port equivalent of the CIPA. Key points:
Lifting equipment (cranes, gantries and similar) has its own inspection and record-keeping rules. Quay machinery must also comply with NR 12 (29.13.1).
The person responsible for the equipment must make the manual, inspection reports and check records available to the OGMO and trained workers (29.13.19). See also why equipment inspection matters so much.
Dangerous cargo is classified according to Annex IV of the standard (29.27.1). The main requirements are:
The port authority and facility holders must prepare an Emergency Control Plan (PCE, Plano de Controle de Emergência). It covers fires and explosions, leaks of hazardous products, environmental accidents, adverse weather conditions, people falling into the water, and first aid and rescue (29.28.1).
Drills must take place during working hours, at least 3 a year for each type of situation, covering all shifts (29.28.6).
Points to watch: an inspection without records proves nothing during a labour inspection, and paper records are hard to keep organised for 5 years.
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The current wording was approved by MTP Ordinance No. 671 of 30 March 2022, published in the Official Gazette on 1 April 2022. It came into force on 1 September 2022 and revoked SSST Ordinance No. 53/1997 and its amendments.
Yes. Item 29.2.1 states that the standard applies to public or private port facilities, inside or outside the area of the organised port. Back-port terminals are also included, but only for the items listed in 29.2.1.1.
For at least five years. Item 29.14.3.1 requires this period for the records of the daily inspection carried out by the operator before starting work. The same period applies to the prior check of quay machinery (29.13.4.2).
The OGMO, to serve casual port workers, sized according to Table I of Annex I of NR 29. For their own employees, companies follow NR 4 and set up the SESMT (29.6.1).
Twenty hours. Item 29.27.6 requires this training for workers involved in the handling and storage of dangerous cargo and lists the minimum course content.
No. Item 29.9.3 prohibits boarding vessels by a "chest-breaker" type ladder (escada quebra-peito). The same prohibition applies to accessing holds (29.11.6).
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