The management of prevention, occupational health, and safety at the Sabadell City Council has faced criticism for the slow pace of improvements. For months, and in some cases years, commitments and announcements have accumulated, only to get caught in bureaucratic processes, internal reports, or indefinite postponements, while staff continue to work in unsafe conditions.
One of the most serious points is the persistence of risks identified since 2003 that remain unresolved. Common justifications include prioritizing other matters, waiting for comprehensive renovation, or intending to act 'later'. The case of the Maintenance and Logistics Warehouse is particularly concerning, as the Labor Inspectorate set an 8-month deadline to fix a floor with a risk of collapse, a deadline the council has admitted is 'unviable', anticipating delays of up to 20 months.
This slowness extends to other areas, such as the embankment at Parc Catalunya, where the risk of falling is still pending project and protection measures. Similarly, the curtains at the Vapor Badia Library, requested since 2023 to prevent glare, depend on a future minor contract. Furthermore, broken air conditioning equipment often faces tender delays, preventing minimal working conditions.
Regarding occupational violence, despite speeches about protecting municipal staff from aggression and insults, real measures are stalled. The citizen awareness campaign lacks a date, specific protocols for services like Social Action are over a year behind, and the internal alert software remains 'under development'.
The situation of the Health and Safety Committee regulations and the Harassment Protocol is emblematic of bureaucracy as a delaying mechanism. One is blocked for 'scheduling', the other paralyzed by dependency on the first, causing delays of months and years. This pattern repeats with security guards, medical delays from the new External Prevention Service (SPA), workplace adaptations, and the filling of essential technical positions.
Recently, complaints have been filed in four critical areas: provision of material resources (like the municipal crane service), workplace risks (Parc Catalunya), temperature risks in various facilities (Cal Estruch, CC Poblenou, CC Can Deu, CC Can Rull, Vapor Codina, Pavelló Sud, Casal Per Quart, Escola Municipal de música del Carrer Jardí, Museu d’Història), and lack of business coordination with external companies.
Occupational prevention cannot be based on promises and shifting deadlines. The article concludes by highlighting the lack of human resources dedicated to prevention in Sabadell, with only two specific technical positions for a staff of 1,881, compared to seven in Terrassa, as an indicator of the council's interest in its workers' health.
