Introduction Work injuries are a serious public health problem since work is a significant role in living conditions and health. We aimed to evaluate work injuries in Piracicaba between 2004 and 2013.

Methods This is a cross-sectional study and is part of the thematic project “Work Accident: from socio-technical analysis towards the social construction of changes” supported by FAPESP. Work injuries data were retrieved from Work Accident Surveillance System (SIVAT) for formal workers with at least 14 years old for the period 2004 to 2013. Data among worker population were retrieved from the Piracicaba´s Research and Planning Institute (IPPLAP). Incidence of work injuries per year and economic activity group were calculated. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to statistical analysis between the type of injury and selected variables. All analyses were done on STATA 13.1.

Results Between 2004 and 2013, 79,000 work injuries occurred with formal workers in Piracicaba, 84.5% (66,758) by typical accident and 15.5% (12,242) by route accident. Among typical accident, the incidences vary between 48.14 (in 2005) and 78.86 (in 2008), per 1,000 formal workers. In relation to the economic activity group, the incidences had a huge variation range, between 4.8 (2004) in the industrial service of public utility, and 301.58 (2005) in the extractive industry, per 1,000 formal workers. The typical accident was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with men (83.29%), 18 to 29 years old (49.16%), light injury severity (80.4%) and absence of work between 1 and 15 days.

Conclusion SIVAT data are adequate to assess workers health in Piracicaba region and to guide the Reference Centre on Worker Health (CEREST) actions. A more sensitive indicator of severity should be built to assist CEREST intervention actions in the work environment and processes to prevent injuries occurrence.