David Hernández (AEPSAL): “We must protect workers’ physical and mental health”

How important is cooperation among the various professionals, stakeholders and organisations involved in occupational health and safety?

Our association strives to foster cooperation between professionals, businesses, specialist organisations, public institutions, universities and social stakeholders, promoting an open, technical and collaborative approach to prevention.

What is the main goal for this year?

For 2026, one of our main goals is to strengthen this professional community by creating opportunities for people to meet, debate and share learning. We aim to promote participatory research, knowledge transfer and the wider dissemination of a culture of prevention, bringing occupational health and safety closer not only to businesses but also to society as a whole.

Prevention should be regarded as a collective value. For this reason, AEPSAL aims to help ensure that knowledge on prevention is disseminated, shared and translated into best practice, better organisations and better working conditions.

How important is the role of the health and safety officer in the workplace?

The main challenge for our profession is to raise the profile of the health and safety officer in the workplace and within the field of occupational health. We must ensure that health and safety professionals are recognised not merely as figures associated with formal or administrative compliance, but as people who look after workers, protect their health, improve working conditions and bring real value to organisations.

There is still a significant gap between formal compliance and genuine prevention that brings about a real change in working conditions. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the technical, human and strategic role of occupational health and safety professionals, by highlighting their contribution to reducing harm, promoting people’s well-being and ensuring the sustainability of businesses.

How is the accident rate changing?

Among the major challenges, I would particularly highlight the reduction in the accident rate – especially fatal accidents, which remain the main concern. Other significant challenges include adapting workplaces for workers with partially disabling injuries and chronic musculoskeletal disorders; the rise in psychosocial risks, particularly organisational fatigue; technological adaptation and the impact of artificial intelligence on occupational health and safety; and exposure to chemical and biological agents.

We must also tackle a cultural challenge: moving from reactive prevention, focused on accidents that have already occurred, to proactive prevention, based on data, indicators, participation, leadership, organisational learning and continuous improvement.

To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the technical quality of risk assessments, improve the integration of prevention into business decision-making, use advanced preventive indicators, implement effective management systems such as ISO 45001 and ISO 45003, and commit to training that is more practical, interdisciplinary and tailored to the realities of the workplace.

How important is dialogue with companies in the health and safety sector and with public authorities?

Dialogue with companies, health and safety services, public authorities, social stakeholders and professional bodies is essential. Health and safety cannot make progress if it is carried out in isolation. It requires technical dialogue, institutional coordination and a shared vision amongst those who regulate, those who manage, those who advise and those who work day-to-day within the organisations.

In this regard, what role does public-private collaboration play in the development and improvement of the sector?

Public-private collaboration plays a key role. Public authorities must establish clear regulatory frameworks, implement effective public policies, step up inspections and promote awareness-raising campaigns. Companies must integrate health and safety into their strategy, allocate resources to it, measure results and make occupational health an integral part of day-to-day management. Professional associations, such as AEPSAL, can act as a bridge between these two worlds: identifying needs, sharing technical knowledge, developing proposals and giving a voice to health and safety professionals.

Improving the sector requires cooperation, not confrontation. We need stable forums for dialogue, involvement in the development of regulations, recognition of the technical expertise of occupational health and safety professionals, and a culture of prevention based on evidence, ethics and shared responsibility.

How should we tackle this new scenario in which traditional risks now coexist with new risks arising from technology and societal trends?

Prevention is at a critical juncture. Traditional risks still exist, but they coexist with new risks arising from digitisation, organisational pressure, hyperconnectivity, precarious working conditions, automation and demographic change. It is no longer enough to prevent accidents; we must protect workers’ physical and mental health.

At AEPSAL, we advocate a modern, technical, people-centred and practical approach to prevention. A preventative approach that assesses, listens, anticipates, supports businesses and puts people at the centre, whilst maintaining professional rigour. With technicians who have professional and
financial independence to carry out rigorous assessments based on technical judgement.

The future of prevention lies in integrating safety, health, well-being, technology, data, leadership and a culture of prevention. And to achieve this, we need trained professionals, strong partnerships, committed companies and public authorities that are responsive to the realities of the workplace.

Prevention should not be seen as a cost, but as a social, economic and human investment. Prevention saves lives, improves organisations and helps build a safer, healthier and more sustainable working environment.