[Life and health conditions of a worker in a rural setting].

The wide spread of cooperated and self-managed ways of work, not only in the urban but also in rural areas, makes relevant the debate on the contributive potential of these experiences for the solution of social problems. This article tries to reflect on the way this organizational logic is able to improve life and health conditions of rural workers. Studying the organizational process of a rural settling, I have tried to understand the meaning given to health-illness by these workers and the health practices being developed.

[New technologies and workers' health: mechanization of sugar cane harvesting].

In the context of reorganization of production in the sugar and alcohol industry, mechanization of sugar cane harvesting has been justified as a protective measure for the environment and workers. This article focuses on the consequences of organization of work in mechanization of sugar cane harvesting with regard to the harvester operators' health. Based on data gathered through interviews and direct observation at the workplace, changes implemented in the technological base and division of labor and organization were analyzed, identifying the work load inherent to the process and how it affects workers' health.