Contributions and conditions of structured debates on work on safety construction

•The discussion about work has been the object of several researches today.•Its effects are mainly related to health and safety at work.•There are few studies that show concrete cases of effects of the debate on work.•This research was conducted at an energy distribution company.•This company sought to develop discussion spaces to build safety.•It is not possible to discuss about work without developing workers' power to act.•This article seeks to show the conditions for the discussion about the work.