Labor Union participation and occupational health: A positive relationship / Participación sindical y salud laboral: una relación positiva

Abstract

After more than a decade of progressive decline in statistical records of accidents at work, the confluence between economic crisis and labor reform has led, since 2013, a rebound in the loss ratio, parallel to the increase in contractual precariousness, the contraction of public and business policies in the field of occupational health, as well as the reduction of coverage and functions of union representation. The article reviews the normative regulation and recent evolution of the Spanish model of prevention of occupational risks, both physical and psycho-social, investigating the causes and effects of the correlation detected among its main indicators (prevention, training, accident rate and evaluation) with those of the employee participation system, both generic (union delegates and works councils) and specialized (prevention delegates and health and safety committees), concluding with various proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding this union intervention.

Keywords

• Crisis
• Precariousness
• Labor risks
• Union intervention