As dramáticas de usos de si na atividade de tratamento da água em um contexto de intensificação de normas do setor público

Abstract

This dissertation is the result of a research in the field of Education, specifically in the area of knowledge about Labor and Education. It is a qualitative study done with civil servants of the water treatment plants from Departamento Municipal de Água e Esgotos (DMAE). The research was held with the collaboration of 10 servants who are responsible for the water treatment in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. The aim of this study was to shed a light over the work of people involved in water treatment in a context where there is an increase of norms ruling the public sector. In order to do so, the main question was: How do operators of water treatment plants employ the use of self, mobilize and create values and knowledge in order to get their work done in times when there is an intensification of norms in the public sector? Data collected in June, 2011 was analyzed under the light of Ergology. Conclusions point out that operators of the water treatment plants have already dealt with a process of regulation and control in the process of water treatment as established in Portaria nº 2.914/2011 by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. This ordinance regulates the labor activity of professionals from the field and defines that drinking water is that which follows its established patterns and which does not offer health risks. The operators of water treatment stations deal with both public norms, such as this ordinance by the Ministry of Health, as well as private norms, such as ISO. Under these circumstances, they have to face the discussion between these norms daily. The work of these operators is soaked in values which state that water should be maintained in its political pole, for it is a common good strictly related to life and cannot be measured, therefore, it cannot be ruled by the market pole.