Background: Ceramic industry workers are subjected to several factors, such as high temperature, dust and work in standing position, which in greater or lesser degree might cause discomfort and work-related disorders. Objective: To investigate the quality of life and functional capacity of ceramic industry workers. Methods: The present study had a quantitative cross-sectional design. A total of 189 ceramic industry workers were analyzed. Muscle strength was assessed by means of dynamometry, and the following questionnaires were applied: WHOQOL-Bref for quality of life; Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms, pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ 2.0) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Results: Overall, 115 (60.8%) participants described their quality of life as average. The lumbar spine was the body segment most often mentioned as the location of pain 68 (36.0%) participants reported occurrence of pain in the past 12 months and 38 (20.1%) in the past 7 days. A total of 107 (56.6%) participants exhibited upper limb muscle weakness. Conclusion: The results evidenced a higher prevalence of pain compared to other professional categories. Muscle weakness, mainly affecting the upper limbs, and self-perceived quality of life as predominantly average show that the state of health of a part of the sample was partially impaired, and while it was not associated with disability, it was perceived as having impact in their personal and professional lives. Keywords | musculoskeletal diseases; ceramics; occupational health; quality of life. RESUMO | Introdução: As indústrias cerâmicas estão sujeitas a uma gama de fatores, como temperatura elevada, poeira, trabalho em pé, que, em maior ou menor grau, podem levar a desconfortos e adoecimentos relacionados ao trabalho. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida e a funcionalidade de trabalhadores de indústria cerâmica. Métodos: O presente estudo envolveu uma abordagem transversal quantitativa. Foram avaliados 189 trabalhadores de indústrias cerâmicas, aos quais foram aplicados o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-Bref, a avaliação da força muscular por meio de dinamômetros, o Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares (QNSO), a escala visual analógica (EVA), o Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ 2.0), bem como o Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Resultados: Na média geral, 115 (60,8%) responderam que sua qualidade de vida é regular. O segmento que os trabalhadores mais se referiram à dor foi a coluna lombar: 68 (36,0%) apresentaram dor nos últimos 12 meses, e 38 (20,1%) nos últimos sete dias. Em membros superiores, 107 (56,6%) exibiram fraqueza muscular. Conclusão: Os achados desvendam a presença de sintomatologia dolorosa em percentual superior ao encontrado para outras categorias profissionais. A fraqueza muscular, principalmente nos membros superiores, e a percepção sobre a qualidade de vida, que prevaleceu como regular, denotam comprometimento parcial da saúde d...