Workplace health and safety knows no borders. After analysing the French PST 2026-2030 and the Italian National Strategy 2026-2030, we now explore the Spanish model — the Estrategia Española de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (EESST) 2023-2027. An ambitious document, the fruit of 17 months of negotiation, that defines the framework for public policies on occupational risk prevention through to 2027.
A document born from social dialogue
The Council of Ministers, meeting on 14 March 2023, approved the Estrategia Española de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (EESST) 2023-2027, the result of consensus between the General State Administration, the Autonomous Communities and social partners. This Strategy intends to be a new reference framework guiding public policies on occupational risk prevention. (Source: INSST, March 2023)
It is the third strategy negotiated in the country, born at a particularly complicated time when the deterioration of working conditions and the safety and health of the working population following the pandemic was evident.
Six strategic objectives, 197 measures
On 8 April 2025, the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy in collaboration with the INSST presented the new Action Plan 2025-2027. This Action Plan 2025-2027, with a total of 197 measures, continues the actions initiated in the first action plan and incorporates new measures to achieve a greater degree of fulfilment of the Strategy’s objectives. (Source: Junta de Andalucía, April 2025)
Objective #1 — Improving the prevention of workplace accidents and occupational diseases
It is a priority of this Strategy to improve the prevention of workplace accidents by focusing on research into and knowledge of their causes, intensifying awareness-raising on risks and possible health damage, and advising and supporting companies. Objective 1 includes 84 measures in the Action Plan 2025-2027. (Source: Junta de Andalucía, April 2025)
Specific attention goes to occupational cancer. The prevention of occupational cancer has a very important place in the strategy, with particular attention to asbestos, respirable crystalline silica dust and wood dust. A National Agenda for the Prevention of Occupational Cancer is incorporated. (Source: UCM CCOO)
Objective #2 — Managing changes arising from new forms of work organisation, demographic change and climate change
The management of risks arising from new forms of work organisation is decisively addressed, with emphasis on psychosocial risks, teleworking, age management, delivery work via digital platforms and digital disconnection. Objective 2 includes 38 measures in the Action Plan 2025-2027. (Source: Junta de Andalucía, April 2025)
A distinctive feature of the Spanish model: since 2025, every employer is obliged to produce a written digital disconnection protocol — establishing clear limits on availability outside working hours. An obligation without equivalent in France or Italy.
Objective #3 — Improving safety and health management in SMEs
Small companies continue to have more difficulty carrying out effective preventive activity. The EESST explicitly recognises this asymmetry and provides specific tools to integrate occupational risk prevention in small companies, promoting greater involvement of in-house resources. (Source: BOE-A-2023-10283)
Objective #4 — Strengthening mental health and managing psychosocial risks
The EESST’s lines of action include fundamental subjects such as mental health, equality between men and women, occupational cancer, road safety and climate change. (Source: Castilla y León, EESST 2023-2027)
Since 2025, burnout is formally recognised as an occupational risk requiring specific assessment and management. A pioneering measure in Europe.
Objective #5 — Protecting vulnerable workers
The Strategy proposes actions aimed at raising the level of protection for groups of workers in situations of greater vulnerability, such as older and younger age groups, self-employed workers, workers with disabilities, migrants, the healthcare and social care sectors, home help and domestic service. (Source: UCM CCOO)
Objective #6 — Improving institutions and coordination mechanisms
The EESST aims to consolidate public policies and strengthen the role of social partners and institutional participation bodies, valuing social dialogue in the area of health and safety at work.
The Action Plan 2025-2027: 197 concrete measures
The Action Plan 2025-2027, with a total of 197 measures, continues the actions initiated in the first action plan and incorporates new measures. Each measure has assigned process and/or outcome indicators, which will facilitate monitoring, promotion and evaluation of the Strategy. (Source: Junta de Andalucía, April 2025)
The context: the accident situation in Spain
In the last decade, workplace accident incidence rates have remained practically stable in all sectors. Certain activities reflect rates above the sector average, while certain workers face a greater risk of suffering health damage. (Source: BOE-A-2023-10283)
It is this worrying stability — not a reduction, not an increase, but a stagnation — that pushed the Spanish government to launch the EESST 2023-2027 with a more structural and ambitious approach.
What this means concretely for companies operating in Spain
The EESST 2023-2027 is not just a programmatic document. It is a clear signal of strengthened controls and labour inspections (ITSS).
Five concrete actions every company operating in Spain can start today:
— Verify compliance with Law 31/1995 on occupational risk prevention
— Draft and implement the digital disconnection protocol
— Integrate psychosocial risk assessment into the risk assessment document
— Activate specific programmes for vulnerable workers
— Train managers in managing risks linked to teleworking and digital platforms
Conclusion
The Estrategia Española de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo 2023-2027 aspires to achieve safe and healthy working environments that contribute positively to workers’ health and to the progress of companies and society. (Source: INSST, March 2023)
2026 has been declared the year of occupational safety and health in Spain — on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of Law 31/1995. An anniversary that is not a celebration, but a renewed commitment.
Sources: INSST, Estrategia Española de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo 2023-2027 (March 2023) — BOE-A-2023-10283, Resolution of 20 April 2023 — BOE-A-2023-18556, Resolution of 8 August 2023 — Junta de Andalucía, Action Plan 2025-2027 (April 2025) — UCM CCOO, Analysis of the EESST 2023-2027 — Castilla y León, EESST 2023-2027.