OHS Grants 2026: regulatory bases for companies and entities

Key data

Organisations working in occupational risk prevention have a public funding opportunity in sight. The Orden TES/237/2026, in force since 10 March 2026, establishes the regulatory bases that will govern the granting of subsidies for OHS activities under the Ley 31/1995 on Occupational Risk Prevention.

The mechanism is the usual one for public grants of this type: competitive concurrence. This means that meeting the requirements is not enough; a solid project must be submitted that scores higher than the other applicants. Those who best prepare their application before the call for applications is published will have the greatest chances of success.

What does this regulation establish?

The Orden TES/237/2026 approves the regulatory bases for the granting of subsidies intended to finance activities in the field of occupational risk prevention. These bases are the general framework that defines the rules of the game: who can apply, what types of projects are eligible and under what criteria applications will be evaluated.

The key elements established by this regulation are:

• Competitive concurrence regime: applications are evaluated and ranked according to objective criteria. Available funds are distributed among the highest-rated projects, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Eligible activities: projects that contribute to improving safety and health at work, including training and awareness programmes on preventive matters.
• Enabling legal framework: the Ley 31/1995, of 8 November, on Occupational Risk Prevention.
• Preliminary step before the call: these bases do not open the application period. The specific call for applications, to be published subsequently, will set deadlines, available amounts and specific requirements.

It is essential to understand that the approval of regulatory bases and the call for applications are two distinct administrative acts. The bases define the permanent rules; the call activates the process and sets the economic and temporal details of each edition.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this regulation is a funding opportunity for entities that already carry out or plan to carry out OHS activities. As these are regulatory bases, the specific grant amounts will not be known until the specific call for applications is published.

However, the operational impact is immediate: interested organisations must begin preparing their projects now, before the application period opens. In competitive concurrence calls, the quality of the project submitted is decisive. Preparing it in advance allows organisations to:

• Properly document OHS activities already carried out or planned.
• Align the project objectives with the evaluation criteria established in the bases.
• Gather the necessary supporting documentation (statutes, activity reports, accreditations).
• Identify partners or collaborators that strengthen the application.

For companies that already invest in occupational safety training and awareness, these grants can represent a significant reduction in the cost of their OHS programmes, by partially or fully financing activities that would otherwise be borne by their own budget.

Who is affected?

The Orden TES/237/2026 is relevant for the following entities:

• Business organisations that develop OHS training or awareness programmes for their members or the sector.
• Trade unions with activity in the field of occupational safety and health.
• Non-profit entities whose corporate purpose includes occupational risk prevention or worker training.
• Other agents that develop training or awareness programmes on preventive matters under the Ley 31/1995.

Companies that only carry out OHS activities for internal use (compliance with their own legal obligation) are not the primary profile for these grants. The focus is on entities that develop OHS activities with external reach: training for third parties, sector-wide awareness campaigns or prevention support tools.

Practical example

A sectoral business organisation that groups SMEs in the construction sector wants to develop a risk prevention training programme for workers at its member companies. Until now, it financed these activities through member fees.

With the publication of these regulatory bases, this organisation can consider applying for a grant for that programme when the call for applications is published. To maximise its chances in a competitive concurrence process, it should:

1. Document the scope of the programme: number of workers to be trained, content, methodology.
2. Demonstrate its prior experience in OHS activities.
3. Prepare a detailed project budget.
4. Monitor the publication of the call for applications in the BOE so as not to miss the application deadline.

The same approach applies to a trade union with an occupational health awareness programme, or to a non-profit foundation specialising in workplace safety.

What should companies do now?

1. Assess whether your entity fits the beneficiary profile: business organisations, trade unions, non-profit entities and agents with externally-oriented OHS activities are the primary recipients.
2. Inventory current or planned OHS activities: identify which training or awareness programmes are already being carried out or planned, and which could be eligible for a grant.
3. Prepare the core documentation: updated statutes, reports of previous OHS activities, relevant accreditations. In competitive concurrence, supporting documentation makes the difference.
4. Set up a BOE monitoring alert: the specific call for applications, which will set deadlines and amounts, will be published at a later date. Not missing that moment is critical, as application deadlines tend to be tight.
5. Consult a specialist in public grants: to structure the project in a way that maximises the score against the evaluation criteria established in the call for applications.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-6737