Workplace Safety and Health: Employer and Employee Obligations

Employer's Obligations in Occupational Safety

Key obligations:

• The employer must ensure the safety and health of workers in all aspects of the job.
• The employer must implement occupational risk prevention measures.

Employee's Rights and Obligations in Risk Prevention

Employee's obligations:

• Use the correct protective means and equipment provided by the employer, following given instructions.

Employee's rights:

• Workers are entitled to information, consultation, and participation in the prevention of occupational hazards.

Prevention Service Modalities

Four modalities for organizing prevention:

1. Assumption of preventive functions by the employer: Only applicable to businesses with up to six workers that do not engage in dangerous activities.
2. Designation of workers: Workers can perform these functions, except for higher-level tasks like risk assessments, ergonomic evaluations, hygiene measurements, or health surveillance, which require qualified technicians.
3. Establishment of an in-house Prevention Service: Mandatory for companies with more than 500 employees, or 250 with hazardous activities, or when required by the Employment Authority. It is optional for others.
4. Use of an external Prevention Service: Duly authorized by the competent authority to cover all or some of the four preventive specialties.

When is an In-House Prevention Service Mandatory?

• If the company has over 500 employees.
• If the company has between 250 and 500 workers and engages in activities listed in Annex I of the Prevention Services Regulations.
• If mandated by the labor authorities.

What is the Health and Safety Committee?

The health and safety committee is a joint and collegial body for regular consultation on the company's actions in matters of risk prevention.

Collective Protection Measures

Examples:

• Cleaning of the work area
• Handrails
• Prevention Lights

Individual Protection Measures

Examples:

• Safety glasses (anti-fragment)
• Helmet
• Gloves

Safety Signs: Colors and Shapes

• Mandatory signs: Round shape. White pictogram on a blue background.
• Warning signs: Triangular shape. Black pictogram on a yellow background with black edges.
• Prohibition signs: Round shape. Black pictogram on a white background with red edges and a red band.

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics is the science that studies human behavior and interactions in the workplace, aiming to adapt the work environment to the worker.