A serious and imminent risk is one that can reasonably be expected to happen in the immediate future and can cause serious harm to health (Article 4).
You can stop and leave
- If you believe your work involves a serious and imminent risk to your life or health, you have the right to stop and leave the workplace if necessary (Article 21.2).
- While the danger lasts you cannot be required to go back, except for safety exceptions laid down in regulations (Article 21.1.b).
- You cannot be penalised for doing so, unless you acted in bad faith or with gross negligence (Article 21.4).
Emergencies (Article 20)
Your employer must analyse possible emergencies and organise first aid, firefighting and evacuation, with enough designated and trained staff and the right equipment. Ask who they are at your workplace and where the assembly point is.
The colours of safety signs (Royal Decree 485/1997)
- Red: prohibition, danger/alarm, emergency stop and firefighting equipment.
- Yellow or amber: warning, attention, caution.
- Blue: mandatory action (for example, wearing PPE).
- Green: rescue or first aid: exits, doors, first-aid kit, safe condition.
In practiceThe kitchen smells of gas and nobody answers the supervisor's phone. You get out and
raise the alarm: Article 21 protects you, and your employer should already have told you whom to call and which way to go out.
Source: Ley 31/1995, de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (Law on the Prevention of Occupational Risks; consolidated text, in Spanish), Articles 4(4), 20 and 21 · Real Decreto 485/1997, health and safety signs at work (in Spanish), Annex II