CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let the annual drill of your emergency plan slip
Every employer must have a plan for managing and responding to emergencies, catastrophes or disasters and rehearse it at least once a year by simulating a real emergency (DS 44 of 2024, Article 19). The plan is reviewed whenever a serious and imminent risk is detected and the drill must be documented (Article 72).
Supreme Decree 44 of 2024 of Chile's Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in force since 1 February 2025, regulates the preventive management of occupational risks. Its Article 19 requires every employer to have one or more plans for managing, reducing and responding to risks in emergencies, catastrophes or disasters or other known, probable and foreseeable internal or external events or incidents capable of seriously disrupting its operations. The plan must be rehearsed at least once a year by simulating a real emergency at the employer's premises (DS 44, Article 19).
For the plan, the employer informs workers, as a minimum, of the risks arising from these contingencies, how to act in response and the procedure for evacuating and transferring those affected; identifies the risks of emergencies, catastrophes or disasters and keeps the response plans up to date, following the guide for implementing the disaster risk reduction plan in workplaces approved by the competent authority; and provides for evacuation when the competent authority orders it (Articles 18 and 19).
Whenever it detects or learns of a serious and imminent risk at the workplace, the employer must review the preventive work programme and the disaster risk management and reduction plan, informing workers and the Joint Committee where applicable (Article 19). The emergency plan is part of the minimum content of the risk-prevention training, which must be repeated at intervals of no more than two years (Article 16). All preventive-management information 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, in force since 1 February 2025 (first transitional article) |
|---|---|
| Who | Every employer (Article 19) |
| What is rehearsed | The plan for managing, reducing and responding to risks in emergencies, catastrophes or disasters (Article 19) |
| Frequency | At least once a year, simulating a real emergency at the employer's premises (Article 19) |
| Minimum plan content | Risks of the contingencies, how to act and the procedure for evacuating and transferring those affected (Article 19) |
| Plan review | Whenever a serious and imminent risk is detected at the workplace (Article 19) |
| Records | Documented and reliable, available to inspectors (Article 72) |
| Enforcement | Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats and the Labour Directorate, according to their powers (Article 77) |
Companies sharing the same workplace must inform each other of their emergency, catastrophe or disaster plans so that each can take them into account in managing its own risks (DS 44, Article 20). The Law 16.744 insurance administrator provides technical assistance in implementing these plans (Article 76).
Who is responsible?
The employer is required to have the plan, keep it up to date and rehearse it at least once a year (DS 44, Article 19), and to keep documentary records of preventive activity (Article 72). It may ask the Law 16.744 insurance administrator for technical assistance (Article 76). In practice the Risk Prevention Department or the safety officer coordinates the drill and keeps its record.
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). Without the annual drill, the company cannot show inspectors the rehearsal required by Article 19 in its documentary records (Article 72).
One drill per plan and per workplace
DS 44 allows one or more emergency plans (Article 19). If the company has several sites or branches with their own plans, it is best to record each site's drill separately and note the actual date it took place, so that none goes more than a year without a rehearsal.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each site, branch or emergency plan and record as the expiry date the day one year after the last drill was held.
- 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 insurance administrator if needed.
- The safety officer can upload the drill report or minutes 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 drill is overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must an emergency drill be held in Chile?
- The emergency, catastrophe or disaster plan must be rehearsed at least once a year by simulating a real emergency at the employer's premises (DS 44, Article 19).
- What must the plan include?
- As a minimum, information to workers on the risks of these contingencies, how to act and the procedure for evacuating and transferring those affected, plus evacuation when ordered by the competent authority (Articles 18 and 19).
- When must the plan be reviewed?
- Whenever the employer detects or learns of a serious and imminent risk at the workplace, informing workers and the Joint Committee where applicable (Article 19).
- Who enforces it?
- 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).
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 emergency plan drill (Chile)
A ready template for emergency plan drill (Chile) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each emergency plan drill (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each emergency plan drill (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.