Households in the Canary Islands that hire individuals for domestic tasks such as cleaning or cooking must now adhere to new legal obligations. The regulations mandate a risk assessment of the occupational hazards these workers face during their shifts and the implementation of necessary preventive measures to ensure their safety and health.
This requirement stems from Royal Decree 893/2024, which grants domestic workers the right to effective protection in occupational safety and health. The responsibility lies with the employer to guarantee these conditions. The initial assessment must consider both the nature of the tasks and the characteristics of the hired individual.
Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to significant financial penalties. The Law on Infractions and Sanctions in the Social Order classifies the omission of mandatory risk assessments as a serious offense. Fines for such offenses in occupational risk prevention range from 2,451 to 49,180 euros, depending on the severity and specific circumstances of the non-compliance. The maximum fine of 49,180 euros is not automatically applied.
Households must examine the working conditions within the home, identify potential risks, and implement measures to eliminate or reduce them. These measures must be documented in writing, a copy provided to the worker, and updated when working conditions change or when work-related incidents occur.
To facilitate this process, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST) offers the free tool Prevencion10.es. This platform allows for risk assessments without prior technical knowledge and generates the required documentation, including preventive measures and follow-up plans.
The Ministry of Labor set a six-month period from the tool's availability on May 14, 2025, for completing the assessment and implementing necessary measures. Consequently, these obligations are now fully in force.
Furthermore, if risks cannot be sufficiently mitigated through other means, employers must provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, free of charge and ensure its proper use. Workers must also be informed about the risks associated with their activities and the applicable prevention and protection measures.
In situations involving serious and imminent risks to life or health, the regulations provide specific protection: the employer must inform of the danger, take immediate action, and allow the worker to cease activity or leave the premises if necessary, without resuming work until the risk is mitigated.
Occupational risk prevention thus becomes an additional responsibility for those employing domestic staff in the Canary Islands, with potentially significant penalties for failing to conduct assessments and implement required preventive measures.
