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With the aim of strengthening the protection of workers’ health and safety, the Ministry of Labor issued Resolution No. 09-26, which establishes new provisions for the installation, equipment, and operation of first aid kits and stations in workplaces throughout the country.
n” “nThe measure, signed by Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega, updates the current regulatory framework and replaces Resolution 03-2019, aligning national requirements with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and international best practices regarding prevention and response to workplace emergencies.
n” “nAmong the main provisions, the regulation establishes that all companies with two or more workers must have first aid kits, appropriate to the level of risk of their operations and the number of personnel on shift, consisting of healing and protection material; antiseptics and solutions; essential medicines; stabilization and trauma; and industrial emergency.
n” “nAs part of the innovations introduced, the resolution classifies first aid kits into three categories: Type A, intended for low-risk companies; Type B, for activities with intermediate risks; and Type C, aimed at industries and companies with high risk where serious injuries or fatal accidents may occur.
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The new regulation also strengthens training requirements by mandating that companies designate personnel responsible for first aid and have at least one trained person for every 50 workers or fraction thereof. These trainings must be updated every two years.
n” “nIt also provides that companies with one hundred or more workers per shift must have properly equipped first aid stations and trained personnel to provide initial care, also incorporating technologies such as the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) where applicable.
n” “nAnother relevant aspect is the updating of the contents of first aid kits, removing medications and supplies that are obsolete or that may encourage self-medication, and promoting the use of materials and products in accordance with current health regulations.
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The regulation also prohibits the use of medications and supplies considered obsolete or potentially risky for self-medication, promoting the exclusive use of materials authorized and updated in accordance with current health criteria.
n” “nLikewise, it provides that first aid kits and first aid stations must be an integral part of emergency plans and occupational health and safety management systems, including the conducting of periodic evacuation and medical attention drills.
n” “nFirst aid stations must have minimum infrastructure conditions, quick access from work areas, and essential equipment for initial emergency care.
n” “nCompanies will have a period of six months to comply with the new requirements established by the resolution.
n” “nThe supervision and verification of compliance with these measures will be the responsibility of the Labor Inspectorate, the Vice Ministry of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Occupational Risk Administrators (ARL), with the purpose of strengthening the preventive culture and reducing the risk of accidents in work environments.
n” “nWith this initiative, the Ministry of Labor reaffirms its commitment to the prevention of occupational risks, the protection of the life and health of workers, and the promotion of safer, more modern work environments prepared to respond in a timely manner to any emergency.
