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Operation

The activity of the INSST is supported by the General Budget of the State. Its technical and human resources allow the institute to develop the necessary tasks to improve working conditions in Spain. These fundamental tasks are as follows: research, provision of technical advice (to companies, social partners and Regional Governments) and information in the field of safety, hygiene, ergonomics, psycho-sociology and medicine at work.

The general functions of INSST include:

  • Provision of technical advice on the drafting of the legal regulations and on achieving standardisation, both at the national and international levels.
  • Promotion and implementation of activities such as training, information, research, study and dissemination of occupational risk prevention issues
  • Provision of technical support and collaboration with the Labour and Social Economy

Inspectorate in carrying out its supervision and control duties

  • Collaboration with international bodies and development of international cooperation programmes in this field
  • Arranging coordination and promoting the exchange of information and experiences between the various public administrations, focussing on encouraging and supporting activities to promote health and safety
  • Providing specialised technical support in certification, testing and endorsement issues
  • Acting as a National Centre of Reference in relations with the EU institutions, thus ensuring the coordination and transmission of information at a national level
  • Directing the Secretariat of the National Commission for Health and Safety at Work.

International cooperation

The INSST carries out many activities at the European and International level in connection with other organisations:

  • WHO Collaborating centre and integrated in the Global Occupational Health Network.
  • Spanish reference Centre of the European Agency of Safety and Health at Work.
  • Reference Office for Spain of the Health Promotion Network.
  • Component of the Latin-America and Caribbean Workers' Health Net.
  • Member of the International Group of Directors of Occupational Safety and Health Research

Institutes (Sheffield Group).

  • Member of the European Network of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institutes.
  • Member of the Mediterranean Network of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institutes.
  • Participation in specific projects of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, especially in the European Survey on Working Conditions.
  • Participation in projects of the Social Security International Association.
  • Member of the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL).
  • Member of the PEROSH (Partnership for European Research in OSH).

INSST is the national Focal Point of EU-OSHA. Furthermore, the INSST is a member of the European Health Promotion Network and is the National Reference Office for Spain.

External links

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Contributor

Belen Perez