The role of preventive resources on site is indispensable for permanently monitoring compliance with safety measures during the execution of especially hazardous work. Their presence at the work face guarantees that complex operations are carried out in line with the guidelines of the prevention plan.
In the daily pace of work, questions commonly arise about when their presence is legally mandatory, what training they must hold or how far their technical powers extend. Failing to assign them, or the absence of the responsible officer at critical moments, constitutes a serious offence penalised by the Labour Inspectorate.
To manage preventive resources on site correctly, it is essential to define the scenarios in which they are mandatory, train the designated workers appropriately and keep a documentary record of their actions.
In this guide we analyse the legal cases requiring their presence, the training required and the digitalisation of their field reports. To review the regulatory framework behind these requirements, see our article on construction site safety regulations.
When the presence of preventive resources is mandatory
The Occupational Risk Prevention Act and Royal Decree 1627/1997 clearly set out the cases in which the principal contractor or the subcontractors must assign continuous preventive presence.
This assignment does not replace the responsibilities of the site manager or foreman; rather, it adds a level of specialist monitoring at the work face.
Legal cases requiring mandatory presence
- Work with especially serious risks: Tasks with a risk of burial in excavations, falls from height to a different level or engulfment.
- Processes with heavy or dangerous machinery: Load-lifting operations, earthworks or the interaction of several machines in confined spaces.
- Concurrence of incompatible activities: Situations in which simultaneous work is carried out by different contractors that could dangerously interfere with one another.
- Express requirement of the Inspectorate: When the labour authority or the safety coordinator formally requires their presence owing to the complexity of the task.
Training requirements and powers on site
The worker designated as a preventive resource must hold the statutory qualification and the authority needed to intervene in the event of imminent risk.
Assigning the role verbally is not enough; the company must issue a formal appointment certifying the operative's technical competence.
Main requirements and powers
- Mandatory minimum training: Basic occupational risk prevention training (a minimum of 60 hours in the construction sector).
- Power to halt work: The ability to give direct instructions to correct deficiencies or halt the work face if an imminent danger is detected.
- Communication with management: The duty to notify the contractor and the site management immediately of any deficiency that has not been remedied.
Action protocols and supervision records
The preventive resource's work is not merely passive; it requires continuous supervision of the conditions of the environment and of the operatives' behaviour.
Recording every intervention and check is the only way to prove, in the face of an inspection or audit, that the duty of monitoring has been exercised effectively.
Ongoing supervision tasks
- Prior verification of the work face: Check that collective and individual protective equipment is installed before starting the task.
- Monitoring PPE use: Ensure that workers use the appropriate mandatory PPE in construction for the activity.
- Compliance with the safety checklist: Audit the control points defined in the site safety checklist.
Digitalisation and management of preventive presence
Keeping track of appointments and supervision reports on paper makes it harder for the prevention department and the technical office to follow up.
With software for managing site safety, preventive resources record their checks from their mobile and report deviations in real time. This tool also speeds up the preparation of the mandatory documentation on a construction site.
Step 1: Assign the preventive resource in the site's digital record. Upload the appointment and the 60-hour training certificate. Step 2: Open the supervision report at the start of the shift. The preventive resource confirms their presence at the work face through the app. Step 3: Report findings or non-conformities with photos. Document any anomaly and send direct alerts to the foreman. Step 4: Sign and archive the digital monitoring report. Save the validated report with date, time and geolocation in the project repository.
How Trowel helps
| Problems | How Trowel solves it |
|---|---|
| Difficulty proving the preventive resource's actual presence at the work face | Clock-ins and supervision reports with geolocation and timestamp stored in the cloud |
| Lack of agility when reporting risks detected during the shift | Instant alerts with attached photographic evidence generated from the mobile with the Health & Safety module |
| Loss of control over the designated workers' training certificates | Monitoring of expiry dates and documentary accreditations before work begins |
You can see the technical detail of each module at Trowel Academy.
Frequently asked questions
Can the preventive resource also carry out their usual work tasks?
Yes, provided that monitoring is compatible with their usual duties and the attention required by the risk at the work face is not diminished.
What training is required to be a preventive resource in construction?
As a minimum, the basic occupational risk prevention course in construction, lasting 60 hours, is required, in accordance with the General Sector Agreement.
Can a subcontractor designate its own preventive resource?
Yes, each contractor or subcontractor carrying out special-risk work must designate its own preventive resources to supervise its personnel.
Conclusion
The correct designation and performance of preventive resources on site is a key part of the prevention machinery, ensuring that the measures set out on paper are met at the work face. Their active presence prevents operational failures and protects the workforce's wellbeing.
Digitalising supervision and presence reports allows full traceability to be maintained and an immediate response to any danger. If you want to optimise the control of preventive resources on your sites, request a free Trowel demo.
You may also be interested in
- Construction site safety regulations →
- Site safety checklist →
- Health and Safety Coordinator in construction →
- Health and Safety Plan on site →
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