Objective: To analyze the incidence and means of elderly suicide in Brazil. Method: Epidemiologic, cross-sectional, quantitative, and retrospective study. The data were obtained in a platform maintained by the Ministry of Health and analyzed. The mortality rate was calculated and means and percentages regarding the employed means of suicide were obtained. Results: In this period, 8,977 suicides took place among the population over 60 years. The highest suicide rates were concentrated in the population over 80, which presented a mean 8.4/100,000 for this period, and between 70 and 79 years, with a mean rate of 8.2/100,000. Considering the total elderly population over 60 years, this value reached 7.8/100,000, whereas in the general population this was 5.3/100,000. The values are always higher among the elderly population: the mean rate in the last five years among the elderly is 47.2% higher than the mean for the general population. The main mean of suicide was hanging (68%), followed by firearm (11%), self-intoxication (9%), falling from a high place (5%), and undefined or undetermined means (6%). Conclusion: Epidemiologic analyses bring visibility to the dyad aging and suicide, corroborating the pertinence of this theme.

Objective: The Traffic Engineering Company of the City of São Paulo (Brazil) observed a decrease in productivity, and an increase in sick leave, accidents and psychological distress among their parking inspection agents. To document this situation, qualitative research was undertaken to obtain an in-depth comprehension of work activity. Participants: Workers, managers and health and safety professionals contributed to the documentation of the problem and to the proposal of possible solutions. Methods: Ergonomic work analysis focusing on real work activity, as well as interviews with individual or groups of stakeholders, were conducted. Results: This research revealed that political-economic factors gradually contributed to: 1) an increasing work load; 2) growing fatigue throughout the day, increasing the workers' vulnerability to incidents and accidents and their tendency to react inappropriately to violence experienced on the street; and 3) excessive individual responsibility to manage dangerous situations. Conclusions: Recommendations to ameliorate the situation are proposed. These suggestions are discussed in terms of feasibility given the impact of macro social factors upon micro work activity, and the associated potential expansion of the ergonomist's role.