NR-1 regulation introduces psychosocial risk management in Brazil

Updates to Brazil's Regulatory Standard 1 (NR-1) have introduced explicit requirements for managing psychosocial risks in the workplace. The regulation mandates that occupational health and safety management must now consider factors affecting the psychological, physical, and social well-being of workers, such as excessive workload, lack of autonomy, and workplace harassment.

Business representatives, including members of FecomercioSP and Secovi-SP, have expressed concerns regarding the subjectivity of these new rules. They argue that the open concepts within NR-1 may create legal uncertainty, as different inspectors might interpret management practices differently. There is also concern that including harassment allegations in risk mapping questionnaires could expose companies to legal vulnerabilities even when claims are unproven.

In response to these regulatory shifts, professional gatherings such as the RH Amhemed meeting in Sorocaba have emerged to help human resources leaders and managers navigate the challenges of mental health and the evolving legal landscape of the future of work.