This research project aimed at analyzing nursing knowledge production on Occupational Health originated from theses and dissertations presented at Brazilian nursing graduate programs between 1979 and 2004. Data were collected from the catalogues of the Study and Research Center in Nursing of the Brazilian Nurses Association. Results identified 140 master's theses and 44 doctoral dissertations in this period. The production increased between 1999 and 2002, as well as the use of the qualitative approach (19.57%). In these studies, the use of phenomenology stood out as a theoretical-methodological reference famework. Most knowledge was produced through applied research directed at nursing work situations.