Unidad 2. Vídeo 3. Flipped FOL. Participación, gestión y evaluación de riesgos

Understanding Worker Participation in Risk Prevention

Role of Delegates in Risk Prevention

• The employer is required to facilitate worker participation in risk prevention through elected prevention delegates, chosen from democratically selected worker representatives.

• The number of prevention delegates varies by company size: 1 for up to 50 workers, 2 for up to 100, and increasing numbers as the workforce grows, with a maximum of 8 for companies over 4,000 employees.

Committee Formation and Responsibilities

• Companies with more than 50 workers must establish a health and safety committee composed of prevention delegates, the employer, and equal representation from both sides.

• Delegates are consulted on all matters related to workplace risk prevention and participate in planning efforts aimed at reducing risks.

Principles of Preventive Action

• Key principles include avoiding risks where possible, evaluating unavoidable risks, substituting dangerous elements with safer alternatives, and prioritizing collective protection measures over individual ones.

• Workers must receive adequate instructions regarding risks and necessary protective measures; ongoing training is essential.

Risk Evaluation Process

• Risks that cannot be eliminated must be evaluated based on two parameters: probability of occurrence (low, medium, high) and severity of potential damage (slightly harmful to extremely harmful).

• This evaluation leads to nine possible combinations that determine the appropriate response level for each identified risk.

Response Strategies Based on Risk Levels

• If a risk is trivial or tolerable, no specific action may be needed; however, preventive actions should improve if the risk is moderate or important.

• For intolerable risks, work must cease immediately until significant reductions or eliminations are achieved.

Importance of Accident Investigation

• All accidents—especially severe ones—must be investigated thoroughly. Employers are obligated to report incidents leading to at least one day off work online.

Impact of Workplace Pressure and Accidents

Consequences of Workplace Pressure

• Workers face significant pressure that can lead to material damage in tools, machinery, and products being manufactured.

• Economic sanctions can be severe for companies, including substantial fines and even criminal penalties due to workplace incidents.

• Companies may suffer reputational damage, resulting in decreased sales volume as a consequence of accidents or poor safety practices.

Effects on Workers and Society

• For workers, the impact includes pain, suffering, loss of income, and potential long-term disability affecting their families.

• Society bears the cost through loss of human resources and productive capacity due to workplace injuries.