Acidentes com material biológico relacionados ao trabalho: análise de uma abordagem institucional

abstract objective: to analyze profile of reports, recording systems, and flowcharts for treatment, notification, follow-up, prophylaxis as well as referrals concerning accidental puncture or laceration among workers from a public health institute. method: data was collected by semi-structured questionnaires answered by professionals in charge of recording accidents, and from reporting forms used in three departments of the institute under study. results: one hundred and thirty-four biological accident records were analyzed. when we compared the records of the institute with other fifty records from the same period by rio de janeiro municipal health secretariat data base, only 11 cases matched. we also observed the reporting forms were not standardized with flows differing from each other; there were no records on the investigations of accident causes or follow up of accident outcomes. conclusion: underreporting and discordance among the forms were observed. we elaborated a form for recording biological accidents as well as a program to monitor accidental puncture or laceration injuries, both aimed at improving worker's health surveillance of the institute.