Today we will talk about an actor often considered “supporting” in the movie “Risk Prevention in Companies“: the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Technician.
The Role of the Occupational Health and Safety Technician
Today the role of the OHS technician, perhaps because of the enormous legal weight borne by companies, is a difficult one to perform, at times thankless, and often overlooked and undervalued.
Having an occupational health and safety technician in a company is more than a legal requirement; in our opinion, it is a guarantee of safety and well-being for everyone who is part of the organization.
Their work involves not only complying with established regulations but also promoting a culture of prevention that safeguards workers’ physical and mental well-being.
Prevention technicians are key players in identifying and managing the risks present in workplaces. From risk assessment to implementing preventive measures, their involvement directly contributes to reducing workplace accidents, occupational illnesses, and hazardous situations that could compromise the company’s health and productivity.
Beyond mitigating risks, having an occupational health and safety technician is an indicator of corporate responsibility and commitment to workers’ well-being.
A company that invests in safety and prevention not only complies with the law but also strengthens its corporate image, builds trust among its employees, and improves its competitiveness in the market.
Regulations on the Occupational Health and Safety Technician
The work of the OHS technician is backed by a legal framework that establishes their responsibilities and obligations in the field of occupational health and safety. Among the main regulations governing their activity is Royal Decree 39/1997, which approves the Regulation of Prevention Services.
Under this regulation, the prevention technician must carry out risk assessments, propose preventive measures, promote prevention management in the company, provide occupational risk prevention training, advise companies and workers, and collaborate in workplace accident investigations, among other duties.
Duties of the Occupational Health and Safety Technician
The duties of an Occupational Health and Safety technician vary according to the complexity of the company’s activity and the skills and aptitudes needed to carry out the risk assessment and develop preventive activity. For this reason, there are three levels of professional qualification:
- Basic-level technicians: To perform this role, basic-level prevention training is required, lasting no less than 50 hours for companies engaged in certain activities, or 30 hours in all other cases.
- Intermediate-level technicians: To perform this role, a higher vocational training diploma as a Higher Technician in Occupational Risks is required.
- Advanced-level technicians: Corresponding to the preventive specialties and disciplines of:
- Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, and Applied Ergonomics and Psychosociology, which require an official university degree and minimum training of no less than 600 hours, accredited by a university with the content specified in an established program.
- Occupational Medicine, which requires healthcare personnel with technical competence and accredited training and ability.
Duties of the OHS Technician
In summary, the main duties of an OHS technician are:
- Risk Assessment: Assessing occupational risks is a key task. It involves identifying the hazards present in the work environment and proposing actions to eliminate, control, or reduce those risks.
- Preventive Planning: The technician must design prevention plans tailored to each company, proposing specific measures to ensure workers’ safety and health.
- Promotion of Preventive Management: Fostering a culture of prevention in companies is essential. This involves integrating occupational risk prevention into production processes and promoting its effective management.
- Prevention Training: Training workers in OHS is essential so they are able to identify and manage the risks in their work environment.
- Advice and Information: Providing advice and guidance to companies and workers on matters related to occupational risk prevention.
- Accident Investigation: Collaborating in the investigation of workplace accidents and occupational illnesses to determine their causes and propose corrective measures.
- Collaboration with Health Surveillance: Working together with healthcare personnel to carry out health surveillance and monitoring of workers.
- Coordination of Business Activities: Managing a company’s business activity coordination (CAE) when several contractors or subcontractors work at the same workplace, ensuring the exchange of preventive information and compliance with RD 171/2004.
In short, the role of the occupational health and safety technician goes beyond complying with legal regulations; it represents a commitment to the safety, health, and well-being of everyone in the company. Their work is essential for preventing risks, protecting workers, and promoting safe and healthy work environments.