Consulting and Training Safety, Occupational Medicine, Management Systems, Quality, Privacy, Environment and Organizational Models

ASPP: Role, Duties, and Responsibilities for Workplace Safety

The acronym “ASPP” stands for Addetto al Servizio di Prevenzione e Protezione (Assistant for the Prevention and Protection Service), a role complementary to the Responsabile del Servizio di Prevenzione e Protezione (RSPP) and crucial, particularly in medium and large-sized organizations.

The ASPP’s primary function is to support and assist the RSPP in ensuring safety within the premises of a business, organization, or institution. Given the importance of the role, the ASPP must complete specific training courses and fulfill a defined set of tasks and responsibilities.

Primary Duties of the ASPP

Appointed by the employer and supervised by the RSPP, the ASPP is responsible for ensuring safety, preventing risks, and protecting workers and clients. In particular, the ASPP must:

  • Identify potential sources of risk in the workplace.
  • Design prevention, protection, and control measures for each type of risk, considering human resources.
  • Develop and prepare the necessary safety procedures.

To perform these tasks, the ASPP must gather essential information about the organization. The employer, in turn, is obligated to provide this information and any other necessary support. This includes:

  • Types of specific risks.
  • Descriptions of equipment, machinery, electrical devices, tools, and work processes.
  • Current work organization and programming, as well as existing risk prevention and protection measures.
  • Data on occupational diseases and workplace injuries, particularly those causing absences longer than one workday.
  • Any measures or practices set by supervisory authorities.

The ASPP uses this information to carry out their duties under the employer’s direction and in coordination with the RSPP, potentially collaborating with the occupational physician or similar specialists.

Legal Duties According to Legislative Decree 81/08

Based on Articles 33-36 of Legislative Decree 81/08, the Prevention and Protection Service (PPS) is tasked with:

  • Drafting the Risk Assessment Document (DVR) using the collected data.
  • Proposing prevention measures to ensure workplace safety, informed by the DVR, identified risks, and regulatory requirements.
  • Managing safety measures, recommending the most appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and proposing an effective monitoring system aligned with available safety budgets.
  • Training and informing workers about job-specific risks and the necessary preventive measures, including fire prevention techniques and first aid training. These activities often draw from guidelines provided by INAIL, regional authorities, and other public entities.
  • Participating in consultations and periodic meetings on occupational health and safety topics, along with the employer, RSPP, workers’ safety representative (RLS), and occupational physician.

Despite being supervised by the RSPP, the ASPP is accountable to both the employer and the RSPP and must adhere to high ethical standards to protect the health and safety of all employees.

Requirements and Appointment of the ASPP

To qualify as an ASPP, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a secondary school diploma.
  • Complete a specialized training course, including a final evaluation. (Partial exemptions are granted to individuals with a degree in a related field.)

Employers are responsible for appointing the ASPP, which can be an internal employee or an external professional if no internal candidate meets the qualifications. However, Legislative Decree 81/08 mandates that the ASPP role be filled by internal staff wherever feasible.

Unlike the RSPP role, the ASPP position can be shared among multiple individuals, depending on the company’s size and safety requirements. Regardless, all ASPPs are bound by confidentiality regarding any proprietary processes they encounter during their duties. Notably, the ASPP role is incompatible with that of the workers’ safety representative (RLS).

Training and Certification for ASPPs

ASPP training courses, conducted by qualified instructors, consist of two primary modules, which can be completed in person or online:

  • Module A: A 28-hour introductory course providing a general overview of workplace safety and prevention. Successful completion grants permanent certification, eliminating the need for future refresher courses.
  • Module B: A 48-hour advanced course focusing on risk assessment and tailored preventive measures. Previously divided by sector, this module now includes a standardized curriculum applicable to all sectors, with specific extensions for certain industries (e.g., agriculture, construction, healthcare, and petrochemicals). A 20-hour refresher course is required every five years.

Additional sector-specific courses and seminars are available, covering topics such as construction safety, contract management, waste handling, and fire safety. While optional, these courses enhance the skills of RSPPs and ASPPs in their respective fields.