Agribusiness operates on a large scale and deals with variables that are difficult to control, such as the climate. In the field, workers are exposed to heavy machinery, chemical pesticides, venomous animals, and long hours under the sun. 

To protect workers' health and provide legal security to rural producers, Regulatory Standard 31 (NR-31) was created. 

If you work in the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management of mills, farms, or cooperatives, mastering this legislation is the first step to avoiding fines, shutdowns, and labor liabilities. In this guide, we have gathered everything about NR-31: its application, the structure of the PGRTR, legal responsibilities, and how to digitize this management in the field.

What is NR-31 and to whom does it apply? 

NR-31 (Safety and Health in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Logging, and Aquaculture) is the Ministry of Labor standard that defines the rules for the organization and safety of the rural environment.  

Its application is mandatory for any rural employer or equivalent who hires workers as employees. This ranges from family farming and small farms to large industries in the sugar-energy, meatpacking, and pulp sectors. The standard also covers industrial exploration activities carried out in rural establishments. 

Responsibilities in NR-31: Employer vs. Worker 

To ensure that occupational safety and health in rural work are effective, the standard clearly divides obligations between the company and employees. 

According to item 31.2.3 of the standard, it is up to the rural employer or equivalent: 

• Comply with and enforce the legal and regulatory provisions on occupational safety and health in rural work;

  
  

• Ensure adequate working, hygiene, and comfort conditions, in addition to adopting prevention and protection measures to ensure that all activities, workplaces, machines, and tools are safe;

  
  

• Adopt the necessary procedures when work accidents and diseases occur, which includes analyzing their causes;

  
  

• Ensure that workers are provided with understandable instructions on safety, health, rights, duties, and obligations, as well as guidance and supervision for safe work;

  
  

• Inform workers about the risks resulting from activities and prevention measures (including new technologies), as well as the results of medical examinations and environmental assessments carried out;

  
  

• Allow worker representatives to accompany inspections and provide the Labor Inspectorate with all information relating to safety and health.  

On the other hand, item 31.2.4 defines that it is up to the worker: 

• Comply with the determinations regarding safe ways to perform their activities, especially service orders;

  
  

• Adopt the preventive measures determined by the employer, under penalty of constituting a misconduct in case of unjustified refusal;

  
  

• Undergo the medical examinations provided for in the standard and collaborate with the company in the application of NR-31;

  
  

• Do not damage the living areas, preserving the conditions provided by the employer;

  
  

• Comply with all guidelines on safe procedures for operation, feeding, cleaning, maintenance, and disposal of tools and machinery;

  
  

• Do not make any alterations to tools, mechanical guards, or equipment safety devices that could endanger their health and physical integrity or that of third parties;

  
  

• Immediately report to their superior if any machine, tool, or equipment is damaged or loses its protective function.  

What is the PGRTR in NR-31? 

The Rural Work Risk Management Program (PGRTR) is the central document for HSE management in the field. The standard requires rural employers to design, implement, and fund this program per establishment, aiming at preventing accidents and illnesses.  

The PGRTR must cover chemical, physical, biological, accident risks, and ergonomic aspects present in the operation. In its structure, it must include, at a minimum, two fundamental documents: the occupational risk inventory and the action plan.  

To ensure that the program does not become outdated, NR-31 determines that the PGRTR must be reviewed every 3 (three) years. This review must also occur in advance if technological changes happen, changes in work organization occur, or if current prevention measures are identified as insufficient.  

Main operational risks mapped in the field 

The rural environment has unique characteristics, requiring the monitoring of various risk sources. The standard establishes strict controls for: 

• Chemical Risks (Pesticides and Adjuvants): The handling of these products is strictly prohibited for minors under 18, people over 60, and pregnant or lactating women. The employer must signpost treated areas indicating the re-entry period and take responsibility for the decontamination of work clothing and PPE. It is also mandatory for workers to shower after completing activities involving the preparation or application of pesticides.  

  
  

• Physical and Mechanical Risks (Machinery and Implements): The operation of machinery must be performed by trained workers. Self-propelled equipment must have a seat belt and Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS), except for the exceptions set forth in the annexes of the standard. Power transmission parts, such as the cardan shaft and the Power Take-Off (PTO), require proper fixed shielding to prevent accidents.  

  
  

• Biological Risks and Animal-Related Risks: The PGRTR must establish guidelines for immunization, waste disposal, proper animal handling, as well as recognition and precautions regarding communicable diseases.  

  
  

• Ergonomic and Climatic Risks: The work requires psychophysiological adaptations. For activities performed standing or with static/dynamic muscular overload, rest breaks must be guaranteed. The risk plan must also guide workers on the procedures to be adopted in the event of extreme weather conditions, including the interruption of activities when they compromise the safety of the team.  

Penalties: What happens in case of non-compliance? 

Agribusiness operations that disregard the obligations of NR-31 are subject to the enforcement of current laws. For inspection and penalty aspects, the standard refers to the application of the provisions contained in Regulatory Standard No. 28.  

In cases where a working situation is identified that involves a serious and imminent risk to the worker's physical integrity, the embargo and interdiction of the affected activities and machinery may occur, according to the rules of Regulatory Standard No. 3.  

NR-31 itself guarantees workers the right to interrupt their activities if they find, for reasonable reasons, a serious and imminent risk to their life or health. Workers who make this interruption must immediately inform their hierarchical superior and must be protected from unjustified consequences resulting from this action. The employer cannot require the employee to return to the activity until corrective measures have been implemented. 

How technology ensures compliance in agribusiness 

One of the biggest challenges of safety in rural work is distance. How can the safety technician prove that the operator of a harvester completed the machine's checklist if they are dozens of miles away? In the manual process, done on paper, information arrives late and is subject to being lost. 

To ensure that PGRTR management happens at the work front, digitizing processes is the most efficient model. Using specialized software, management gains: 

• Digital Checklists: Inspections of machinery, fleets, and lodging filled out directly on the supervisor's tablet or smartphone. 

  
  

• Native Offline Functionality: In rural areas without signal, the team fills out forms, attaches photos, and collects signatures. As soon as the device finds internet, the data is automatically synchronized with the headquarters. 

  
  

• Training Management: The system monitors training expirations (such as pesticide application) and issues alerts, preventing employees without up-to-date training from performing high-risk activities. 

  
  

Your agricultural operation does not need to depend on physical forms and slow processes.

Speak now with the specialists at GAP Sistemas and discover how our offline-capable software transforms your HSE management in the field, ensuring agility and legal security.