The prevention of occupational hazards is a priority at the Institut Guttmann. That is why the Institution has its own Prevention Service that takes on the three technical specialities (Ergonomics and Psycho-sociology, Industrial Hygiene and Safety in the Workplace), while the speciality of Health Surveillance is subcontracted to a properly accredited external prevention service. Professional contingencies, accidents at work and occupational diseases are covered by Mutua Universal, a mutual insurance company that collaborates with the Social Security.
Every two years, the Institut Guttmann carries out legal audits of compliance with occupational hazard prevention regulations. The last audit was carried out in February 2021 by the accredited company TÜV Rheinland.
The principles governing the prevention of occupational hazards at the Institut Guttmann are defined in the CSR Policy. The main line of work in 2019 has been the detection and evaluation of hazards and the implementation of preventive measures to eliminate or mitigate them. The following are noteworthy due to the nature of the organisation:
Hazard due to overexertion
- Related to manual patient mobilizations:
A new face-to-face and hands-on training program in patient handling has begun in 2020.
- Related to ergonomics:
In 2020, a new system of food tray distribution carts has been implemented in the kitchen, which will improve the ergonomics of this operation and guarantee the temperature of the food.
Hazard from exposure to biological contaminants
There are numerous protocols in place in the organization to control this hazard, which is inherent in the nature of the Institut Guttmann’s activity and which focuses especially on care personnel.
Radiation exposure hazard
This hazard is focused on areas where there are installations that emit radiation and is regulated by very strict standards that the Institut Guttmann watches over in all cases.
Hazard due to “in itinere” accidents
To reach the Institut Guttmann facilities there is a limited offer of public transport, so most professionals travel in their private vehicles. The organization carries out a process of permanent dialogue with the Administration to improve the offer of public transport and carries out campaigns to prevent traffic accidents.
Psychosocial hazard
During the 2020 financial year, the monitoring committee has designed an Improvement Plan to respond to the psychosocial study of 2019. This new psychosocial study, carried out by a third-party prevention service, will help us to advance new action plans. and continue on the path of continuous improvement.
DURING 2020, THE FOLLOWING OCURRED:
– Workplace accidents with sick leave = 3 (men) + 5 (women) = 8
– Days of absence due to occupational accidents = 91 (men) + 38 (women) = 129
– “In itinere” accidents at work with sick leave = 1 (men) + 3 (women) = 4
– Days of accidental leave “in itinere” = 25 (men) + 35 (women) = 60
The analysis and investigation of incidents and accidents is another key activity in hazard prevention in order to determine their causes and establish action plans.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Health and Safety Committee of the Institut Guttmann is made up of six members, three of whom are the prevention delegates representing the Works Council and the other three representing the Foundation. The main objective of the committee is to promote hazard prevention and ensure compliance with the principles of professional health and safety.
EVALUATION OF SUPPLIERS’ WORK PRACTICES
The Institut Guttmann demands from all of its companies or suppliers, reciprocity in the honesty of their commercial relations, total respect for the regulations in force and, especially, those referring to the obligatory nature of the employment of disabled people; as well as those referring to the protection of children, the protection of the environment and the protection of labour.
The Institut Guttmann coordinates all the activities it carries out together with third parties for the prevention of occupational hazards in order to ensure the health and safety of all professionals and to avoid the transfer of hazards between activities, which may be aggravated or modified or which may give rise to new hazards arising from the concurrence or simultaneity of activities. In order to comply with the provisions of “Royal Decree 171/2004, which develops Article 24 of Law 31/1995 of 8 November on the Prevention of Occupational Hazards, regarding the Coordination of business activities”, the Institut Guttmann has implemented a Management System for the Coordination of business activities for its work centres. To carry out this process, the Institut Guttmann has outsourced the management service referring to the Coordination of Business Activities to the UCAE platform.