The Labour Inspectorate does not give advance notice. And in 2026, it arrives with more inspectors, more technology, and a very clear list of priorities. If you manage safety at an industrial company, this article is for you.
The new ITSS Strategic Plan 2025-2027: a shift in approach
In October 2025, the Government approved the Labour Inspectorate and Social Security Strategic Plan (ITSS) 2025-2027. This is not a minor update: it represents the most significant modernisation of the inspectorate in decades.
The figures speak for themselves: 554 new inspectors and sub-inspectors, an investment of €28.5 million in digitalisation and the creation of a forensic IT laboratory. The Labour Inspectorate is no longer the slow-moving body many were familiar with.
What do inspectors check now? The 5 priority areas
The plan clearly identifies where inspection pressure will be concentrated. If your company operates in any of these areas, you need to be ready:
Occupational risk prevention (OHS): up-to-date risk assessments, documented prevention plan, accredited worker training, and implemented corrective measures.
Working time records: reliable and verifiable systems, especially for remote work and production shifts. Non-compliance is one of the most heavily penalised infringements.
Use of artificial intelligence and algorithms: the plan introduces specific controls on AI systems used for shift allocation, productivity evaluation, or personnel selection.
Contracts and bogus self-employment: the ITSS has already identified 46,000 bogus self-employed workers this year. Industrial contractors and subcontractors are especially in the spotlight.
Business activity coordination (CAE): documentation between the principal company and contractors, site access procedures, and accreditation of OHS training.
What is new: digital inspections and automatic data cross-referencing
One of the most significant developments in the plan is the ability to carry out checks by video conference and the use of fraud detection algorithms through data cross-referencing with the Social Security system and the Tax Agency.
This means a company can receive a documentation request without an inspector physically visiting the premises. The Inspectorate's digitalisation requires that your documentation is also digitalised and accessible in real time.
"Companies that integrate good compliance and transparency practices will face less risk of penalty. Those that do not will face a more rigorous and digitalised inspection scenario." — ITSS Strategic Plan 2025-2027
Penalties for OHS non-compliance: what is at stake
OHS infringements are classified as minor, serious, and very serious. Very serious penalties can reach €819,780, and in the event of an accident, the company may also face criminal liability and Social Security benefit surcharges of up to 50% of the compensation amount.
Beyond the financial penalty, a negative inspection result can mean suspension of activity until the detected deficiencies are remedied. At a production plant, that is a cost no operations director wants to calculate.
How to prepare your company before the Inspectorate arrives
Preparation is not about having your paperwork in order on the day of the visit. It is about having your processes working well every day. These are the priority actions:
Update your risk assessment: it must reflect the actual situation at the plant, including the roles with the highest risk exposure and the active preventive measures.
Verify your team's training: every worker must have accredited OHS training specific to their role. Keep attendance records and certificates.
Review your working time recording system: it must be reliable, tamper-proof, and accessible. Manual or paper-based systems are increasingly difficult to defend before an inspector.
Document your CAE if you work with contractors: signed agreements, training provided to external workers, and coordination procedures must be immediately available.
Conduct an internal audit before they arrive: identify your weak points with enough time to address them.
The role of technology: from reactivity to proactive prevention
The irony of the new inspection plan is that the Labour Inspectorate is adopting exactly the same approach as the most advanced industrial safety platforms: moving from reacting to incidents to anticipating them through data.
Companies that already operate with computer vision for real-time safety monitoring tienen una ventaja doble: reducen accidentes y generan automáticamente la evidencia documental que un inspector necesita. Registros de cumplimiento de EPIs, detección de situaciones de riesgo, alertas automáticas — todo trazable y auditable.
Si quieres ver cómo funciona este enfoque en la práctica, puedes explorar la demo interactiva de Safe y comprobar qué tipo de evidencias genera un sistema de visión artificial en tu planta.
👉 Accede a la demo interactiva de Safe y comprueba qué tipo de evidencias genera un sistema de visión artificial en tu planta.
*Este artículo tiene carácter informativo y no constituye asesoramiento legal vinculante. Para cuestiones normativas específicas, consulta con un técnico de PRL o asesor jurídico laboral.*