CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let the yearly drill, training and review of the emergency plan go unrecorded
Every hazardous substances facility and every shop selling them must keep an emergency plan, maintained through drills at least once a year, yearly training and a yearly plan review, all recorded (DS 43 of 2015, Article 190, letter i). An emergency director must be present whenever the facility operates.
Supreme Decree 43 of 2015 of Chile's Ministry of Health, the Regulation on Storage of Hazardous Substances, sets the safety conditions for facilities storing hazardous substances classified under Chilean standard NCh 382:2013 (Articles 1 and 2). Its Title XIII requires all hazardous substances facilities and the shops that sell these substances to have an Emergency Plan, which may form part of the company's general emergency plan and must comply with Article 8 of Law 20.564, the Fire Brigades Framework Law (DS 43, Article 190). Warehouses (Article 53), production or packaging areas with tanks (Article 166) and commercial premises (Article 177) all refer to the same plan.
The plan must include, as applicable, a scale plan of the site and its surroundings within a 50 m radius, plans of each storage facility, a list of substances with their safety data sheets, a chain of command with an Emergency Director and alternate directors, emergency procedures by type of event, detection and response equipment, and the personal protective equipment available (Article 190, letters a to h). While the facility is operating, the Emergency Director or an alternate must be continuously present (Article 191).
Letter i) of Article 190 requires the plan's operability to be maintained with drills at least once a year, a yearly training programme on the basics of the plan for all staff, a yearly training programme on the specifics for anyone who may be directly involved in an emergency, a programme of periodic reviews of the plan at least once a year, and the yearly scheduling, definition and results of drills, with a record kept of each activity. In addition, staff working in the storage facility must receive training at least once a year on the substances, their safety data sheets, safety and protective equipment and the operating procedure, with records available to the health authority (Article 13).
At a glance
| Rule | Supreme Decree 43 of 2015 (Ministry of Health), Regulation on Storage of Hazardous Substances, Title XIII, Articles 190 and 191 |
|---|---|
| Who | All hazardous substances facilities and the shops that sell these substances (Article 190) |
| Drills | At least once a year, with yearly scheduling, definition and results (Article 190 letter i) |
| Basic training | Yearly programme on the basics of the plan for all company staff (Article 190 letter i) |
| Specific training | Yearly programme for staff who may be directly involved: substances and hazards, emergency procedure, fire prevention and extinguishing (Article 190 letter i) |
| Plan review | Programme of periodic reviews, at least once a year (Article 190 letter i) |
| Records | Of each of these activities (Article 190 letter i); staff training records available to the health authority (Article 13) |
| Enforcement | Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats, under Book Ten of the Health Code (Article 192) |
Article 190 allows this plan to be part of the company's general emergency plan. In that case the yearly drill of the general plan required by DS 44/2024 (Article 19) and the drill of the hazardous substances plan may coincide, but DS 43 additionally requires the two yearly training programmes and the yearly review of the plan, each recorded, which are best tracked separately.
Who is responsible?
The duties fall on whoever operates the storage facility or shop: it must have the plan, keep it operational through the yearly drills, training and reviews and record each activity (DS 43, Article 190), ensure the continuous presence of the Emergency Director or an alternate (Article 191) and train facility staff every year (Article 13). The plan is among the documents submitted to the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariat when applying for the facility's health authorisation (Article 5).
If the deadline passes
The Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats, as health authority, enforce DS 43 under Book Ten of the Health Code (Article 192). Without records of the drill, the training and the yearly review, the company cannot show that it maintains the plan's operability required by Article 190 letter i), nor the yearly staff training under Article 13.
Four yearly activities, one plan
Letter i) of Article 190 groups four yearly duties: the drill, basic training for all staff, specific training for response staff and the review of the plan. It is best to record each with its own date so that none goes more than a year without being done. The inspection of gas storage tanks (Article 145) and fire extinguisher maintenance are covered in their own guides.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each hazardous substances facility and record as the expiry date the day one year after the last drill; create separate entries for the basic training, the specific training and the plan review.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day, leaving time to plan the drill and coordinate it with the fire brigade or the authority if needed.
- The Emergency Director can upload the drill report, training lists or plan review minutes through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person, such as the Emergency Director; if an activity is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must the hazardous substances emergency plan be drilled in Chile?
- At least once a year, with yearly scheduling, definition and results of the drills, and a record kept (DS 43, Article 190 letter i).
- What training does the plan require?
- A yearly training programme on the basics of the plan for all staff and another yearly programme on the specifics for anyone who may be directly involved in an emergency, covering the substances and their hazards, the emergency procedure and fire prevention and extinguishing (Article 190 letter i). Storage facility staff must also be trained at least once a year (Article 13).
- How often is the plan reviewed?
- There must be a programme of periodic reviews of the plan, at least once a year (Article 190 letter i).
- Can it be part of the company's general emergency plan?
- Yes. The hazardous substances emergency plan may form an integral part of the company's general emergency plan, complying with Article 8 of Law 20.564 (Article 190).
Sources
- Decreto 43 de 2015 (Ministerio de Salud), Reglamento de Almacenamiento de Sustancias Peligrosas: artículos 1, 2, 5, 13, 53, 166, 177, 190, 191 y 192 (LeyChile, BCN)
- Decreto Supremo 44 de 2024, Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social, Reglamento sobre gestión preventiva de los riesgos laborales: artículo 19 (LeyChile, BCN)
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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