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Introduction The work of transport and handling of goods at the port is collectively executed and so it requires good communication among workers to deal with the usual and unexpected situations of daily work. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the form and functions used in the communication between port workers and determine their importance for the preservation of workers' health and safety. Methodology This research is the result of a case study conducted in a port located in the north of Portugal. It involved general and systematic observations of work activity on the pier and boats, completed with semi-structured interviews and individual and collective refunds. Individual and collective refunds served to deepen some aspects identified during observations, fundamental to the knowledge of subjective experiences of these workers. Results and discussion During the investigation each port worker was observed not as an isolated individual but inserted into working relations with other port workers, who perform other functions, such as boarding, stevedores, inspectors, crane operators, among others. These interactions among workers take place through various forms of communication: gestures, movements, looks, facial expressions, verbal or printed information, operative codes. Conclusions The impact of these forms of communication is visible at several levels: the possibility of meeting deadlines; the quality of their work; and also for the safety of all those involved in work situations. There are variations in communication not only according to the type of load to be carried, but also according to the function of each team member. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]