Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

1. General principles

ERL promotes responsible research publication and requires that submitted manuscripts present truthful, original results obtained within an appropriate ethical framework. The journal rejects any form of scientific or editorial misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, improper citation practices, and inappropriate authorship.

2. Research ethics

All research submitted for publication must have been conducted in accordance with appropriate ethical standards. Where applicable, authors must indicate:

• Approval by an ethics committee, including the name of the body and approval reference.
• Compliance with applicable regulations on informed consent, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Explicit informed consent statements for studies involving human participants, where required.
• Compliance with relevant animal welfare regulations for studies involving animals, where applicable.

3. Authorship and responsibilities

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work, data analysis or interpretation, drafting or critical revision of the manuscript, and who approve the final version. All authors share responsibility for the content.

• Honorary, guest, or ghost authorship is not permitted.
• Any changes to authorship (addition, removal, or reordering) must be justified and approved by all authors.

4. Conflicts of interest and funding

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest (financial, institutional, or personal) that could influence the evaluation or interpretation of the manuscript. Where applicable, sources of funding and the role of funders must be clearly stated (See Conflict of Interest Policy in Spanish)..

5. Originality, plagiarism, and misconduct

The journal conducts editorial originality checks and similarity assessments using appropriate tools and procedures. If plagiarism, redundant publication, data manipulation, or other misconduct is identified:

• Before publication: the manuscript may be rejected immediately or returned for clarification.
• After publication: proportionate corrective actions will be taken, including correction, expression of concern, or retraction (See Policy on Corrections, Expressions of Concern and Retractions in Spanish).

6. Editorial process and peer review

ERL applies an initial editorial assessment to verify the manuscript’s relevance to the journal’s scope, compliance with formal requirements, and overall consistency.

Manuscripts that pass this stage undergo double-blind peer review, conducted by independent external reviewers. As a general rule, the journal seeks to obtain at least two reviews, subject to reviewer availability and topic specialization.

• Confidentiality: all manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents.
• Objectivity: reviewers should assess originality, methodological rigor, validity of results, relevance, references, and ethical considerations.
• Conflicts of interest: reviewers must decline review if a conflict of interest exists.
• Reviewer suggestions: authors may suggest or exclude potential reviewers; however, final selection rests solely with the journal and does not influence editorial decisions.

7. Editorial decisions

Editorial decisions are based on the manuscript’s relevance, scientific quality, and peer review reports. Possible decisions include acceptance, acceptance with minor or major revisions, or rejection.

Passing the initial editorial assessment or peer review stage does not guarantee acceptance.

8. Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions

ERL will correct significant errors that affect the interpretation, accuracy, or integrity of published content. Depending on the circumstances, the journal may issue:

• Corrections: for errors that do not invalidate the findings.
• Expressions of concern: when serious doubts arise and investigations are ongoing.
• Retractions: in cases of confirmed misconduct, plagiarism, or invalid results.

All corrections and retractions will be clearly identified and permanently linked to the original article, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

9. Appeals and complaints

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit a reasoned appeal to the Editorial Office. Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, when appropriate, by another editor with relevant expertise. The resulting decision is final. As a rule, only one appeal is permitted per manuscript.

10. Editorial independence

The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over the journal’s editorial content and ensures that decisions are made independently, free from commercial, institutional, or personal influence. The composition of the editorial team may be reviewed periodically in line with the journal’s scientific objectives.

11. Post-publication comments

ERL may receive communications regarding published articles (e.g., comments or clarifications) via email. When such communications provide relevant and verifiable information, the journal may consider appropriate editorial actions, including publication of a note or correction.

12. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Journal of Occupational Risk Assessment recognizes the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools in academia. The use of these tools must be ethical, responsible, and transparent.

Artificial intelligence cannot be listed as an author or co-author of manuscripts. Human authors assume full responsibility for the content, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.

When AI has been used to support the preparation of the manuscript (for example, to improve writing or translation), this use must be explicitly declared.

For more information, please see the Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Spanish.

13. Best Practices for Citation and Data Management

The Journal of Occupational Risk Assessment promotes the responsible and rigorous use of bibliographic sources and research data as an essential part of academic integrity.

Authors must cite all sources used accurately and verifiably, respecting copyright and avoiding inappropriate practices such as irrelevant, excessive, or unjustified citation.

Research data must also be managed ethically, transparently, and in accordance with current regulations, ensuring its reliability, traceability, and, where possible, the reproducibility of the results.

For more information, please consult the Best Practices for Citation and Data Management in Spanish.

14. Contact

For queries related to publication ethics, misconduct, or complaints, please contact: info@evaluacionderiesgoslaborales.com