OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of all retirement cases from permanent disability (related or not to work) of the staff members at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), from 1966 to 1999. METHODS a historical series analyses to observational study was done. The considered variables included age, gender, diagnosis, occupation, date of disability leave and data of retirement. RESULTS It was evidenced from the 355 analysed cases, large variability in the yearly distribution, with minimum variability between the years of 1978/91 and maximum in 1999. From the total retirement cases, 56% were male and 44% female, with a mean age of 51 years. The most frequent diagnoses were schizophrenia (14%), arterial hypertension (13%) and back problems (9%). In relation to occupation, the mean rate of retirement for the teaching group (group 1) was 1.33/1000 workers/year and 1.86/1000 workers/year for the technical and general service workers (group 2). CONCLUSIONS The findings from the present study associated with the population morbidity data will allow the Servi o de Aten o Sa de do Trabalhador (SAST/Pampulha/UFMG), to better promote health programs in the workplace.