CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a high-altitude worker go a year without training or a health check
Sites with workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaria above 3,000 m update their written preventive programme every year, give at least 3 hours of yearly training and ensure an annual health check (DS 594, Articles 110 b.2 to 110 b.5). Occasional workers get a yearly health assessment paid by the employer.
Supreme Decree 594 of 1999 of Chile's Ministry of Health regulates, in point 10 of its paragraph on physical agents (Articles 110 b to 110 b.10, added by Decree 28 of 2012), work at high altitude where workers are exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaria. High altitude means a geographic height of 3,000 m or more and below 5,500 m above sea level, and exposure to chronic intermittent hypobaria means discontinuous work-related exposure for more than 6 months, with at least 30% of that time spent in rotating shifts at high altitude and rest at low altitude (DS 594, Article 110 b.1). Work above 5,500 m requires assessment and express authorisation by the health authority (Article 110 b).
Companies or sites with exposed workers must inform them of the specific risks, include the risk in their safety and health management system, keep a written preventive programme updated every year in line with the Ministry of Health's technical guide, and provide yearly theoretical and practical instruction on the risk, its health consequences and preventive measures, lasting at least 3 clock hours and delivered by a health professional holding a degree from a state-recognised higher education institution with training in the subject (Article 110 b.2). The programme must be in writing.
On health, fitness is assessed before entry through examinations and evaluations under the technical guide, paid by the contracting company (Article 110 b.3). Exposed workers join the occupational surveillance programme, with periodic and pre-exit evaluations carried out and paid by the Law 16.744 insurance administrator; in addition they must have a yearly general preventive health check and follow-up of chronic conditions through their own health scheme and present the results at the occupational examination, after which the doctor issues a certificate of fitness or unfitness (Article 110 b.4). Those who work above 3,000 m only sporadically must have a yearly health evaluation paid by the employer (Article 110 b.5).
At a glance
| Rule | DS 594/1999 of the Ministry of Health, Articles 110 b to 110 b.10 (Decree 28 of 2012) |
|---|---|
| High altitude | 3,000 m or more and below 5,500 m above sea level; above 5,500 m only with health authority authorisation (Articles 110 b and 110 b.1) |
| Exposed workers | More than 6 months of discontinuous exposure, with at least 30% of the time in rotating shifts at high altitude (Article 110 b.1) |
| Preventive programme | In writing, updated yearly in line with the technical guide (Article 110 b.2 letter c) |
| Training | Yearly, theoretical and practical, at least 3 clock hours, by a health professional (Article 110 b.2 letter d) |
| Health check | Yearly general preventive check and follow-up of chronic conditions, presented at the occupational exam (Article 110 b.4); yearly for sporadic workers (Article 110 b.5) |
| Occupational surveillance | Periodic and pre-exit evaluations by the insurance administrator under the technical guide; fitness certificate (Article 110 b.4) |
| Enforcement | Health authority, under the Health Code (Articles 2 and 131) |
The frequency of occupational surveillance evaluations and the content of the examinations are set by the Ministry of Health's Technical Guide on Occupational Exposure to Chronic Intermittent Hypobaria at High Altitude (Articles 110 b.3 and 110 b.4), which this guide does not reproduce. What the decree itself fixes as yearly is the update of the preventive programme, the 3-hour training, the general preventive health check and the evaluation of sporadic workers.
Who is responsible?
The company or site with exposed workers must keep the written preventive programme updated every year and provide the yearly training (DS 594, Article 110 b.2), and pay for the entry examinations (Article 110 b.3) and the yearly evaluation of sporadic workers (Article 110 b.5). Occupational surveillance evaluations are carried out and paid by the Law 16.744 insurance administrator, with doctors trained in occupational health and mountain medicine (Article 110 b.4). The worker must have the yearly preventive check through their own health scheme and keep the results (Article 110 b.4).
If the deadline passes
Enforcement of DS 594 falls to the health authority, and breaches are sanctioned after a formal inquiry under Book Ten of the Health Code (Articles 2 and 131). A worker found unfit must be moved to another task that poses no risk to their health (Article 110 b.4). Without the yearly training and the updated written programme, the site cannot show the preventive measures required by Article 110 b.2.
Emergency brigades and clinics: other yearly deadlines
The same point 10 sets other yearly duties: members of the site's emergency brigade must receive two clock hours of training every year (Article 110 b.9), and sites above 3,000 m with more than 50 workers must have a clinic authorised by the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariat whose protocol includes a yearly re-evaluation of workers (Articles 110 b.7 and 110 b.8). It is best to track these as separate entries.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each worker exposed to high altitude and record as the expiry date the day one year after their last 3-hour training; create a second entry for their yearly preventive health check.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day, leaving time to book the health professional and the medical appointment.
- The professional delivering the training or the worker can upload the written record or certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the head of the site's Risk Prevention Department; if the deadline passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later. Track the yearly update of the preventive programme as well.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must high-altitude workers be trained in Chile?
- Every year, through theoretical and practical instruction of at least 3 clock hours delivered by a health professional, recorded in writing (DS 594, Article 110 b.2 letter d).
- Which health check is yearly?
- The general preventive health check and follow-up of chronic conditions, which the worker has through their own health scheme and presents at the occupational health examination (Article 110 b.4). Sporadic workers above 3,000 m must have a yearly health evaluation paid by the employer (Article 110 b.5).
- Who counts as exposed?
- Anyone with discontinuous work-related exposure to high altitude for more than 6 months, spending at least 30% of that time in rotating shifts at high altitude with rest at low altitude (Article 110 b.1).
- Who enforces the rule?
- The health authority, which sanctions breaches after a formal inquiry under Book Ten of the Health Code (DS 594, Articles 2 and 131).
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.
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