Unidad 1. Vídeo 1. Flipped FOL. Conceptos básicos en Prevención de Riesgos Laborales.
Understanding Occupational Risk Prevention
Definition of Health and Occupational Risk
- The World Health Organization defines health as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, indicating that a person is healthy when free from diseases or injuries.
- Occupational risk refers to the possibility of harm to a worker; any situation where there is potential for damage constitutes an occupational risk.
Work Conditions Influencing Risks
- Work conditions encompass various labor characteristics that can generate risks, including workspace layout, equipment usage (like ladders and machines), and environmental factors such as noise and temperature.
- Other work conditions include physical exertion requirements, poor posture, and organizational aspects like instruction delivery and employee motivation.
Preventive Measures in Occupational Safety
- Occupational risk prevention involves measures taken at all stages of business activity aimed at avoiding or reducing workplace risks to protect workers' health.
- The goal of these preventive measures is to mitigate risks before they result in health damage to employees.
Types of Health Damage in Workers
- Damage occurs when an occupational risk materializes; primary types include occupational diseases, work-related accidents, job dissatisfaction, and fatigue.
Understanding Occupational Diseases
- An occupational disease is recognized legally if it appears on the official list established by Spanish legislation (Royal Decree 1299/2006) and relates directly to the worker's profession. For example, pneumoconiosis due to metal polishing qualifies as an occupational disease if linked correctly.
Defining Work Accidents
- A work accident is defined as any bodily injury suffered by a worker during their employment activities for another party; specific criteria must be met for classification as such: physical or psychological injury must occur while working under contract with a causal relationship between the work performed and the accident itself.
Situations Considered Equivalent to Work Accidents
- Certain situations are treated similarly to work accidents under law:
- Accident In Itinere: Injuries occurring while commuting to or from work using appropriate transport methods are classified as work accidents.
- Union Representative Accidents: Injuries sustained by union representatives during their duties are also considered work-related accidents.
- Non-standard Tasks: Injuries incurred while performing tasks outside regular duties but deemed necessary for company operations qualify too.
Additional Considerations for Work Accidents
Workplace Accidents and Employee Well-being
Understanding Workplace Accidents
- Accidents caused by professional negligence, such as repetitive tasks, are not classified as workplace accidents.
- Incidents resulting from force majeure, like unpredictable weather phenomena, are also excluded from being considered workplace accidents.
- Reckless behavior, such as disabling safety devices for convenience, does not qualify for social security benefits and may lead to sanctions against the worker.
Impact of Job Dissatisfaction on Workers
- Stress arises when employees feel overwhelmed by demands exceeding their capabilities, potentially leading to severe psychological disorders or psychosomatic reactions (e.g., stomach pain).
- Depression is characterized by profound sadness and mental inhibition, which can reduce attention capacity and increase the risk of accidents or poor work performance.
Burnout and Fatigue in the Workplace
- The burnout syndrome reflects a state of exhaustion and lack of motivation due to continuous stress; it is common in high-demand professions requiring significant commitment.
- Fatigue manifests either physically (due to prolonged effort) or mentally (from jobs needing high attention), leading to sleep disturbances and other health issues.
Long-term Effects of Fatigue