Hi All, I might have to travel to Spain to provide H&S consultancy services to a client that has business in the UK and in Spain. I am fluent (Spoken and written) in English and Spanish. However, I am wondering how health and safety is managed in Spain; e.g. are risk assessments recorded in the same way as the UK? What is the equivalent of BS in Spain? Or CE is the norm? Is there an equivalent of the HSWA? Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks!

Thank you. I have seen that page and I am aware that they need to comply with EU directives, but as you have said not all countries implement directives in the same manner. I am also aware that in certain cases (Mostly in construction) the requirements are almost identical to the UK. My question is more about the counterparts of the UK set up, e.g. Does Spain follows the 5 steps to risk assessment? Most of the RAs I've seen are very technical of engineering processes as opposed risk assessments for offices or activities (lone working, etc). Does Spain has a RIDDOR equivalent? Is there a 'compensation culture' in Spain? I am also wondering about fire safety. Are employers responsible for carrying out FRAs?

A little bit, it provides links to statutory documents and general guidance (But so far I have not find any RA guidance). There are no case studies, tools, completed examples, etc. In my opinion is not as good as the HSE website.

Sorry - looked for International Group - couldn't find it on the IOSH website [could have sworn there was one - try Consultancy Group - they must have overseas members]

As part of your question: There's a specific (UK) way of recording risk assessments? Please tell me more . .

5 Steps is no more. It was just guidance, as it it's blander replacement 'Risk Assessment' INDG163 (rev4) And it was not about 'the' way of recording - it did offer an example approach. Which is still of course an optional tool. As the ACOP to the Management Regs (used to!) say: there are no fixed rules on how RA to be carried out. (although later covers key contents expected). Same ex-ACOP on recording: there was a list of content for 'significant findings', but no specification of any 'one way'. Gone off on one, but a risk-based approach in an EU (or any!) country can utilise one or many techniques to achieve 'compliance' with the 'assess risk' general Directive requirement. If you like using 5 steps, use it (but it's not UK law!). The objective, of course, is to determine the solutions needed for the safety hazards and problems. I have recently been working for a company whose 'parent group' is Spanish and appear to follow a slightly less prescribed route to attain broadly the same approach (goal setting) as used by UK branch. The Spanish managers at the UK site seemed quite comfortable with the RA approach being used (NOT five steps, but IOSH-preferred variety). See https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications for general info.

Lets throw a spanner in the works - Do they actually have any H&S rules in Spain. Very few on construction sites

I suspect it's more about the enforcement of h&s laws in Spain and elsewhere in Europe come to that, which is what we perceive when travelling to these sunny climes.