CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a worker go more than two years without the risk-prevention course
Every employer must train its workers in risk prevention through a course of at least 8 hours, at the interval set by its preventive work programme, never more than two years apart (DS 44 of 2024, Article 16). It is delivered by the employer, an accredited body or the insurance administrator, and must be documented.
Supreme Decree 44 of 2024 of Chile's Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in force since 1 February 2025, sets the employer's duties for the preventive management of occupational risks (Article 1). Its Article 16 requires theoretical or practical training of workers on the main safety and health measures they must bear in mind in their work, at the times and intervals set by the preventive work programme, which may not exceed two years (DS 44, Article 16).
The training must be a course of at least 8 hours covering the risk factors at the workplace, the health effects of exposure to them, the preventive measures, the medical and financial benefits of the Law 16.744 insurance and how to claim them, the employer's emergency, catastrophe or disaster risk management plan, workplace signage and fire prevention including the use of extinguishers (Article 16). It may be delivered by the employer itself, by accredited bodies or by the insurance administrator through technical assistance, preferably within working hours (Article 16).
It is separate from the information on risks that every worker must receive before starting work (Article 15) and from the specific training required by other rules, such as training in the use of personal protective equipment (Article 13). The actual interval is set by the preventive work programme, which for employers with up to 25 workers must state it expressly (Article 64 No. 3 letter g). All preventive activity must be recorded and backed up in documents (Article 72).
At a glance
| Rule | DS 44/2024 of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Article 16; in force since 1 February 2025 (first transitional article) |
|---|---|
| Who | Every employer, for its workers (Articles 1 and 16) |
| Length | A course of at least 8 hours, theoretical or practical as appropriate (Article 16) |
| Frequency | As set by the preventive work programme, never more than two years apart (Article 16) |
| Minimum content | Risk factors, health effects, preventive measures, Law 16.744 insurance benefits, emergency plan, signage and fire prevention (Article 16) |
| Who delivers it | The employer, accredited bodies or the insurance administrator through technical assistance (Article 16) |
| Records | Documented and reliable, available to inspectors and the insurance administrator (Article 72) |
| Enforcement | Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats and the Labour Directorate, according to their powers (Article 77) |
Two years is the ceiling, not the required interval: the preventive work programme may set a shorter period, and that is then the one to meet (DS 44, Article 16). Until the Ministry of Labour issues the technical training guide provided for in Article 16, the employer decides how it verifies what workers have understood (third transitional article).
Who is responsible?
The employer must deliver the training at the interval set by its preventive work programme, never more than two years apart (DS 44, Article 16), and keep documentary records of it (Article 72). It may run the course itself, use accredited bodies or rely on technical assistance from the Law 16.744 insurance administrator (Article 16). In practice the Risk Prevention Department or the safety officer schedules the courses and keeps attendance lists and assessment results.
If the deadline passes
Inspection, enforcement and sanctioning of breaches of DS 44 at workplaces fall to the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats and the Labour Directorate, according to their legal powers, without prejudice to the powers of the Social Security Superintendency (Article 77). If a worker goes more than two years without the course, the employer cannot show compliance with Article 16 in its documentary records (Article 72).
One expiry date per person, not per company
Article 16 is met worker by worker: each person must have taken the course within the period set by the preventive programme. Record the date of each worker's last course and, if the programme sets an interval shorter than two years, use that interval as the expiry. The annual drill of the emergency plan (Article 19) and the annual review of the risk matrix (Article 7) are separate duties, covered in their own guides.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each worker and record as the expiry date the day the interval set by your preventive work programme runs out, counted from the last course (at most two years).
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day, leaving time to book the course with the accredited body or the insurance administrator.
- The trainer or the worker can upload the certificate or attendance list through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the head of the Risk Prevention Department; if the course is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must risk-prevention training be given in Chile?
- At the times and intervals set by the preventive work programme, which may not exceed two years (DS 44, Article 16).
- How long must the training be?
- It must be a course of at least 8 hours, theoretical or practical as appropriate, covering the seven topics listed in Article 16 of DS 44.
- Who may deliver it?
- The employer itself, accredited bodies or the Law 16.744 insurance administrator through technical assistance, following the Social Security Superintendency's instructions (DS 44, Article 16).
- Does it replace the risk briefing at hiring?
- No. Timely and adequate information on risks before work starts is a separate duty (DS 44, Article 15), as is training in the use of personal protective equipment (Article 13).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 11, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for occupational risk prevention training (minimum 8 hours) (Chile)
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Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each occupational risk prevention training (minimum 8 hours) (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
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