Spain reports increase in chemical transport accidents and construction sick leaves in 2025

In 2025 Spain recorded a historic rise in incidents involving hazardous chemical transport. The emergency management system logged 40 chemical‑risk accidents, a 25% increase over 2024 and 150% higher than 2017 levels. Related hazardous‑goods transport events rose to 85, up 33% year‑on‑year. Temporary speed restrictions affected 1,135 railway sections, covering almost 2,000 km, with Andalusia (229 incidents) and Catalonia (195) most impacted. A road‑safety report warned that 52% of Spanish roads have serious defects, with over 34,000 km needing urgent work and a maintenance deficit exceeding €13 billion.

A separate study by the AGREMIA‑APIEM Observatory examined temporary disability in the construction‑installations sector (CNAE 432). In 2025, 81.4% of leaves were for common contingencies, rising 3.7% to 39.5 per 100 workers, while professional‑contingency leaves fell 10% to 7.7 per 100 workers. The index of temporary incapacity rose to 4.23 for common cases (up 12.8%) but fell to 0.93 for professional cases (down 3.1%). Musculoskeletal overload accounted for 36.8% of work accidents, and respiratory illnesses represented 41.4% of common‑contingency leaves. The average cost per completed leave increased to €1,100.34 per person, or €26.67 per day.