Police Welfare: A look at occupational health and safety and the prevention of occupational risks for police officers in El Salvador

Abstract

Little is heard and analyzed on the protection and care of the police in the workplace. The collective imaginary considers them tireless machines and demands an extraordinary surrender to annihilate the crime. The labor and personal dimension of the policeman is ignored, their fatigue and risk of losing their lives, their personal aspirations and family concerns are ignored. This study is concerned with exploring the work of the Division of Police Welfare of the National Civil Police, specifically in matters of occupational health and safety, to analyze whether its actions consider the provisions of the General Law for the Prevention of Risks in Workplaces and if so, it contributes to the establishment of healthy work environments. The premises are two: i) occupational well-being involves the execution of occupational health and safety measures; ii) the direct relationship between the work welfare of the police and the performance of their work.