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    Spain · National · Order

    Order of 9 March 1971: General Occupational Safety and Hygiene Ordinance

    Historical; extensively repealed, with saving provisions requiring case-specific checking

    Current official Spanish title: Orden de 9 de marzo de 1971 por la que se aprueba la Ordenanza General de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo.

    Original publication and analysis
    On this page
    1. What it regulates
    2. Who it applies to
    3. Key provisions
    4. History and versions
    5. Transitional provisions and application notes
    6. Official BOE legal relationships
    7. Official sources
    8. Explore the concepts in Sabentis Explore

    What it regulates

    Contains Spain’s former general occupational safety and hygiene rules. The LPRL and its regulations progressively replaced its titles and chapters; this sheet reconstructs that succession rather than applying the 1971 text in full.

    Who it applies to

    A national OSH predecessor, analysed by repealed titles, chapters and subject areas; it is not a complete list of current duties.

    Key provisions

    Titles I and III were repealed by the LPRL. Title II was preserved only insofar as compatible with that law and pending implementing regulations.

    Official reference

    Regulatory succession covers workplaces, equipment, personal protection and electricity. Each regulation’s dates and scope determine which rules apply to the event or installation examined.

    Official reference

    Repeals of articles 138 and 139 were expressed by subject: biological agents, carcinogens and later mutagens. They must not be converted into an indiscriminate statement about the entire chapter or Ordinance.

    Official reference

    The repeal provision of RD 486/1997 retained certain chapters for workplaces excluded by article 1.2 and, for fire protection, article 24 and chapter VII in the specified case. This saving is conditional on subsequent specific legislation.

    Official reference

    History and versions

    Initial publication: 16/03/1971 · Initial entry into force: 01/06/1971

    BOE-A-1971-380

    All 16 subsequent relationships in the checked BOE record are retained: correction, MT implementing measures and partial repeals between 1989 and 2003. Later development of successor rules must also be followed. The record is not presented as proof of historical completeness or universal residual applicability.

    Correction published on 6 April 1971, to be read with the initial publication.

    BOE-A-1971-36265

    Resolution of 20 March 1978: historical development through MT-14, chemical and combined filters against chlorine. Its mention does not establish current validity as a product standard.

    BOE-A-1978-10291

    Resolution of 12 May 1978: historical MT-15 development, chemical and combined filters against sulphur dioxide.

    BOE-A-1978-15481

    Resolution of 28 June 1978: historical MT-17 development, protective lenses against impact.

    BOE-A-1978-23228

    Resolution of 31 January 1980: new historical MT-5 standard, safety footwear against mechanical risks.

    BOE-A-1980-3209

    Resolution of 23 February 1981: historical MT-22 development, fall-protection safety belts.

    BOE-A-1981-6404

    Resolution of 31 October 1986: historical MT-29 development, rescue poles for indoor use up to 66 kV.

    BOE-A-1986-32524

    RD 1316/1989 repealed article 31.9 on noise. That decree was itself subsequently replaced; current references must follow the chain to RD 286/2006.

    BOE-A-1989-25805

    The LPRL repealed titles I and III. It temporarily preserved title II rules compatible with the law until the corresponding implementing regulations were adopted.

    BOE-A-1995-24292

    RD 486/1997 repealed title II chapters I–V and VII but retained the excluded workplaces and fire-related cases specified in its repeal provision until their specific rules were adopted.

    BOE-A-1997-8669

    RD 664/1997 repealed articles 138 and 139 insofar as they concern exposure to biological agents. The repeal is limited by subject matter.

    BOE-A-1997-11144

    RD 665/1997 repealed articles 138 and 139 insofar as they concern carcinogens. Its later development must be checked for other agents incorporated into that regulation.

    BOE-A-1997-11145

    RD 773/1997 repealed title II chapter XIII on personal protection.

    BOE-A-1997-12735

    RD 1215/1997 repealed title II chapters VIII–XII, subject to its transitional provision and second final provision.

    BOE-A-1997-17824

    RD 614/2001 repealed title II chapter VI on electricity.

    BOE-A-2001-11881

    RD 349/2003 extended repeal of articles 138 and 139 to risks from mutagen exposure. This is not a declaration repealing the entire Ordinance.

    BOE-A-2003-6934

    This record links to the original publication and subsequent instruments. No separate consolidated BOE text has been identified for this instrument.

    Transitional provisions and application notes

    • Original publication was 16 March 1971, corrected on 6 April 1971, with entry into force on 1 June 1971. Its historical relevance does not make its technical levels, sanctions or procedures current requirements.

      Official reference

    • No separately consolidated version resolving all savings has been located. A current case requires checking sector rules, later regulations and scope; this sheet does not declare a particular remainder applicable without that examination.

      Official reference

    • Linked MT technical standards are retained as historical implementing measures. Their inclusion does not authorise marketing, selecting or using equipment today solely on the basis of old approvals.

      Official reference

    Official BOE legal relationships

    Relationships may affect only specific provisions. They do not by themselves determine the status of the whole instrument: consult its history and application notes.

    Earlier references (11)
    Subsequent references (16)

    Official sources

    Official sources checked on 14/11/2026. Updating a database record does not by itself mean that the legislation has been amended.

    1. BOE-A-1971-380
    2. BOE-A-1971-36265
    3. BOE-A-1978-10291
    4. BOE-A-1978-15481
    5. BOE-A-1978-23228
    6. BOE-A-1980-3209
    7. BOE-A-1981-6404
    8. BOE-A-1986-32524
    9. BOE-A-1989-25805
    10. BOE-A-1995-24292
    11. BOE-A-1997-8669
    12. BOE-A-1997-11144
    13. BOE-A-1997-11145
    14. BOE-A-1997-12735
    15. BOE-A-1997-17824
    16. BOE-A-2001-11881
    17. BOE-A-2003-6934

    Official sources checked on 14 November 2026. Consolidation, where available, is informative and has no legal force. Consult the official publication and check the applicable provision and date.

    Sabentis editorial translation into English; it is not an official translation and does not replace the official text.

    Editorial information

    Publication date: 14 November 2026.

    Editorial responsibility: Sabentis editorial team.

    Editorial review by Pablo RodríguezLinkedIn

    Executive Vice President of the International ORP Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Sabentis.

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