The Role of the labour and social security inspectorate in the protection of workers from COVID-19

Collaboration with health authorities

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the role of Labor and Social Security Inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social in Spanish) in the assessment and management of the risks associated to COVID-19 in the workplaces, since the beginning of the pandemic until the enforcement of the Royal Decree-Law 26/2020, with special focus on the Operative and Technical Criteria issued by the Directorate of the State Labor and Social Security Inspectorate.

The paper describes the differentiation of those situations where the infection risk is derived from the work activity itself and, therefore, has a professional nature, from those where the risk is external to the work activity, thus lacking such character.

A specific part of this paper is dedicated to the study of the collaboration and coordination between the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate and the Public Health Authorities, which has been become essential to effectively protect the health of workers.