NOM-035-STPS-2018 is one of the regulations more important in the field of safety and health at work in Mexico. Its objective is to identify, analyze and prevent psychosocial risk factors in the working environment.
What is the NOM-035?
The Official Mexican Standard 035 sets the items to identify, analyze and prevent psychosocial risk factors, as well as to promote an organizational climate favourable in the workplace.
This standard is mandatory for all the work centers in Mexico, and their compliance is monitored by the ministry of Labour and Social welfare (STPS).
Who is covered?
NOM-035 applies to all places of work in the national territory, but the obligations vary according to the number of workers:
Centers work with up to 15 employees:
- Establish written and disseminate a policy for the prevention of psychosocial risks
- To identify workers exposed to traumatic events, severe
- Disseminate information to raise awareness of these risks
Centers work with 16 to 50 employees:
- All of the above, plus:
- Identify and analyze the psychosocial risk factors
- Take measures to prevent and control risk factors
- Practice medical examinations of workers exposed to workplace violence
Workplaces with more than 50 employees:
- All of the above, plus:
- Perform evaluations of the organizational climate
- Implement control actions when they identify levels of risk high
Psychosocial Risk factors
The standard identifies eight main categories of risk factors:
- Conditions of the working environment: Lighting, noise, inadequate temperature
- Working load: excessive Pace, long hours
- Lack of control over work: Little involvement in decisions
- Days of work: Extensive or presses that affect the rest
- Interference with work-family: Conflicts between responsibilities
- Leadership negative: Supervision of poor or abusive
- Negative relationships: workplace Violence, harassment
- Workplace violence: Bullying, harassment
How to Comply with the NOM-035
Step 1: Prevention Policy
Set a clear policy in writing that includes the company’s commitment to the prevention of psychosocial risks and the promotion of a favourable environment.
Step 2: Identification of Risk Factors
Applied questionnaires to your employees to identify the risk factors present in your organization.
Step 3: Assessment of the Organizational climate
If you have more than 50 employees, you must evaluate the organizational climate by means of validated questionnaires.
Step 4: Implementation of Measures
Develops and implements preventive actions and corrective based on the results of the evaluations.
Step 5: Follow-up and Improvement
Set up a monitoring system to monitor the effectiveness of the actions implemented.
Module Surveys SWIA to NOM-035
With the module Surveys of SWIA, the compliance of the NOM-035 is simple and automated:
- Questionnaires pre-loaded and validated officially
- Digital application in any device
- Automatic analysis of results
- Ready reports for audits
- Alerts and reminders automatic
Sanctions for non-compliance
The failure of NOM-035 can result in fines of up to 500,000 mexican pesos, in addition to the temporary or permanent closure of the centre of labour on severe cases.
Conclusion
To comply with the NOM-035 does not only avoid penalties, but also improves the well-being of your employees and the productivity of your business. With the right tools, the compliance can be simple and effective.