In today's world, human capital is undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets of any organization.
That is why, as an employer, it must ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards. Avoiding the spread of diseases and ensuring the prevention of occupational accidents and occupational diseases.
In this context, Governmental Agreement 229-2014, Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, establishes a series of employer obligations whose main objective is to protect the life, health and safety of workers.
These regulations contemplate a series of norms that regulate structural and environmental aspects that every employer must observe and apply in the workplace.
On the other hand, it establishes a series of mechanisms for verification and compliance with these standards, which are as follows:
Internal verification mechanisms:
- Provision of health services: Employers are required to provide occupational health services, the nature and scope of which vary depending on the number of workers. Such services must be provided by a monitor, auxiliary nurse, professional nurse or active registered physician, as the case may be.
- Occupational Health and Safety Organization: Establish an organization to verify and comply with occupational health and safety standards. Depending on the number of workers, the company may designate a monitor or in any case facilitate the creation of a Bipartite Occupational Health and Safety Committee, who will be in charge of this task.
- To have an occupational health and safety plan or an occupational risk plan: every employer is required to have a plan to support risk management, its scope and formalization process will depend on the number of employees in the organization.
External verification mechanisms:
The law empowers both the Inspectors of Labor and Social Security and the Inspectors of the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security to verify compliance with Occupational Health and Safety standards.
Compliance with the aforementioned regulations generates a healthy environment, which in turn increases the productivity of the companies. Therefore, it is recommended that they be observed at all times.
In addition, it avoids the application of fines by the corresponding administrative entity, which can range from eight to sixteen times the minimum wage.
Generate a culture of compliance and health in your organization by observing labor and occupational health and safety standards. If you have any questions about this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us.
