Background: There is strong evidence that physical exercise in the workplace is effective for reducing workers' musculoskeletal complaints. Studies with industrial workers and studies on progressive resistance exercises during breaks are scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a resistance exercise program on perceived fatigue control among industrial workers. Methods: 204 employees from the dairy industry were allocated to two groups, the intervention group (IG) (n = 98) and the control group (CG) (n = 106). The primary outcome measures were perceived fatigue control and maximum muscle strength, measured through the Need for Recovery Scale and one-repetition maximum contraction (1-RM), respectively. Secondary outcome measures were musculoskeletal complaints, physical activity level, perceived risk factors, physical fitness (BMI, vital signs, and body fat percentage), and workers´productivity. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and then again after 4 months. The IG performed resistance exercises using progressively greater loads while the CG performed general exercise using elastic bands. The exercise protocols were performed three times per week for 20 min. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed using the mixed linear model. Results were considered significant when p < 0.05. Results: The IG did not show to be superior to the CG, although both groups improved perceived fatigue control and muscle strength after the resistance physical exercise program in the worplace. There was also no significant difference between the groups for musculoskeletal complaints and other secondary variables analyzed. However, both groups showed significant improvements between baseline and after 4 months of intervention for all evaluated outcomes (p < 0.05).

Background: Fatigue is a multifactorial condition that leads to disease and loss in production, and it affects a large number of workers worldwide. This study aims to demonstrate a resistance exercise protocol that individuals will perform during the work schedule, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this exercises program for fatigue control.

The increased use of pesticides due to the expansion of agricultural production and the lack of mor e comprehensive and rigorous legislation and enforcement has made Brazil a major consumer of pesticides, assuming in 2009 the position of largest consumer market of pesticides in the world. The state of Espirito Santo has a relevant influence on this prominence of the country, placing itself among the ten Brazilian states that have the largest sales in the country of this class of pesticides, being Santa Maria de Jetibá an important trader and consumer of pesticides due to its intense agricultural productio n. Given this intense commercialization of pesticides, and the problems caused by pesticides to environmental and human health, the objective was to make a situational diagnosis of the commercialization and use of pesticides in the municipality of Santa Ma ria de Jetibá-ES. For this, data from existing public studies and interviews with farmers from the municipality of Santa Maria de Jetibá were used, analyzing the influence on the Gross Domestic Product of the municipality. In the city of Santa Maria de Jetibá, there was intense agricultural production and intense use of pesticides, and the percentage share of GDP was much higher than those of neighboring cities that do not practice intensive agriculture.