By Gabriela Mancero & Laura Castro, PM Lawyers

Considering the results obtained in the first report submitted by the Administrators of occupational risks, the Regional Directorates and the Directorate of Occupational Risks of the Ministry of Labor, which indicated a level «incipient» development in the implementation of Systems Management Safety and Health at Work (SG -SST for its abbreviation in Spanish) of companies with fewer than 10 employees, the Ministry of Labour has decided by Decree 171 of February 1, 2016, alter this period of transition and unify it for all types of companies (micro, small, medium and large).

Recall that according to Article 2.2.4.6.37 of Decree 1072 of 2015, the transitional regime to implement SG- SST according to the number of employees from each company was as follows:

Eighteen (18) months for companies with fewer (10) workers. (January 31, 2016)

Twenty-four (24) months for companies with ten (10) to two hundred (200) workers. (31 July 2016)

Thirty (30) months for companies two hundred and one (201) or more workers. (January 31, 2017)

So, according to Article 1 of Decree 171 of February 1, 2016, whereby Article 2.2.4.6.37 of Decree 1072 of 2015, amending January 31, 2017 will be the deadline for finish whole process of implementation and development of SG-SST  for all public and private employers, contracting personnel in any form of civil, commercial or administrative contract, organizations of solidarity economy and the cooperative sector and temporary services companies .

Steps to implement the SG-SST

1. Initial assessment of the SG-SST
2. Hazard identification, evaluation, assessment and risk management.
3. Policy and Objectives for Safety and Health at Work.
4. Annual Work Plan of SG-SST and resource allocation.
5. Training program, training, induction and re-induction Safety and Health (SST)
6. Prevention, training and emergency response.
7. Reporting and investigation of incidents, accidents and occupational diseases.
8. Criteria for procurement of goods or contracting with the provisions of SG-SST .
9. Measurement and evaluation of the SST management.
10. preventive or corrective actions.