Roadside assistance is an essential, high-risk activity. However, beyond technical expertise, business owners face an equally complex and far more legal challenge: the regulations on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Spain.
The legislation is dense and, more often than not, complying with it becomes a maze for companies in the sector. The key question every business owner must ask is: "Am I sure I am complying with the law correctly?"
The Myth of the External Prevention Service (SPA)
There is a widespread and dangerous belief that hiring an External Prevention Service (SPA) is enough to outsource legal responsibility. It is essential to dispel this myth.
The law is clear: hiring an SPA is only technical support. The SPA helps with risk assessment, health surveillance or specific training, but it does not replace the company's fundamental role.
🚨 Warning! Ultimate responsibility lies entirely with the employer.
In the event of an accident or serious breach, the Labour Inspectorate or, worse still, the courts will require the employer to prove that they have integrated prevention at all levels of management, that they have planned preventive actions and that they have properly trained and informed their workers. The employer is the main guarantor of safety.
Your Obligations: Know Them to Protect Yourself
To manage legal risk, it is essential that the roadside assistance business owner has the most thorough knowledge of:
- Their obligations and responsibilities as the person ultimately responsible for the company.
- The responsibilities of the other parties: workers, middle managers, subcontractors and the SPA itself.
- The sector-specific regulations, which involve unique risks (traffic, load handling, working at height, hazardous substances).
Ignorance of the law is no defence against the serious penalties that may be imposed for non-compliance, ranging from considerable fines to criminal liability in very serious cases.
REAC's Solution: Specialised Management Training
Aware of this complexity and of the need to protect our members, at REAC we have developed training programmes designed specifically for leadership and legal management in the sector.
Our "Business Owners and Managers Course" addresses precisely this legal and training gap:
1. Legal Framework and Penalties
- Basic and Implementing Legislation: An overview of the OHS Act and its specific regulations.
- Types of Penalties: Know what your company faces in the event of non-compliance and how to avoid it.
- Sector-Specific Legislation: A detailed focus on the regulations that directly affect roadside assistance activity.
- Functions, Obligations and Responsibilities: A clear definition of the role of the business owner, managers and middle managers.
2. Integrating Prevention into Total Management
Prevention is not an "add-on"; it is an intrinsic part of business management. The course teaches how to integrate prevention with Quality and Environment systems, adopting a Total Management model. This ensures that OHS is built into the company's day-to-day organisation and planning, not just its paperwork.
Belonging to REAC means accessing this critical knowledge completely free of charge, ensuring that your company not only complies but also positions itself at the forefront of safety and legal rigour.
Don't leave your legal responsibility to chance. The future and continuity of your roadside assistance company depend directly on you taking charge of Occupational Health and Safety. Get informed and get trained with REAC.