CIPA in Brazil: what it is, how elections work and who has job security

The Internal Commission for the Prevention of Accidents and Harassment (CIPA) is made up of employer and employee representatives to prevent accidents, illness and harassment at work (NR-5). Representatives elected by employees — full members and alternates — have job security from the registration of their candidacy until one year after the end of their term.

Quick summary

• Basis: CLT, arts. 163 to 165 (the CLT is Brazil's Consolidated Labor Laws); NR-5; Law 14,457/2022 (adding harassment).
• Who must have one: employers depending on headcount and risk level (NR-5 table).
• Term: 1 year, with one re-election allowed.
• Election: secret ballot, with a public notice and registration open to all employees.
• Job security: full members and alternates elected by employees, from candidacy until 1 year after the term (ADCT, art. 10, II, a; TST Precedent 339 — the TST is the Superior Labor Court).
• Members appointed by the employer have no job security.

What the CIPA does

1. Identifies risks and proposes workplace improvements.
2. Monitors work accidents and illnesses — see Work accidents.
3. Runs the SIPAT (prevention week).
4. Since 2022, works on preventing and combating sexual harassment and other violence — see Sexual harassment.
5. Takes part in managing NR-1 psychosocial risks — see Burnout and NR-1.

How the election works

1. The employer publishes the notice with the registration deadline.
2. Any employee may stand.
3. Voting is secret, during working hours.
4. Those with the most votes are full members; the next are alternates.
5. The employer records the minutes and installs the members.

The CIPA member's job security

• Starts with the registration of candidacy.
• Lasts until 1 year after the end of the term.
• Protects against arbitrary dismissal — without disciplinary, technical, economic or financial grounds.
• If the employer closes the establishment, job security does not continue (Precedent 339, II).

Frequently asked questions

Do CIPA alternates have job security?

Yes, an elected alternate has the same job security as a full member.

Can I be dismissed during my CIPA term?

Only for cause or on proven disciplinary, technical, economic or financial grounds.

Read more in this series

• Job security: who is entitled
• Uniforms and PPE: who pays
• Sexual harassment at work
• Work accidents: CAT and rights
• Index: complete guide to labor rights