CO · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never let a periodic occupational medical exam slip
Each Colombian employer sets the frequency of periodic occupational medical exams in its SG-SST, justified by exposure to risks and never exceeding three years even in exceptional cases (Article 15 of Resolución 1843 de 2025). The employer pays for them; breaches carry the sanctions of Ley 1562 de 2012 (Article 34).
Resolución 1843 de 2025 of Colombia's Ministry of Labour regulates occupational medical evaluations and the handling of occupational medical records, covering every worker in the country (Article 1), and applies to all employers, public and private companies, contracting parties, contractors, dependent and independent workers, occupational risk insurers (ARL) and providers of occupational medicine, safety and health services (Article 2). It took effect on publication, gave six (6) months to implement its provisions (Article 35) and repealed Resolución 2346 de 2007 and Resolución 1918 de 2009 (Article 36).
The evaluations an employer or contracting party must carry out as a minimum are: pre-employment, periodic (scheduled or on a change of occupation), exit, post-sick-leave, return-to-work and follow-up or control evaluations (Article 8). Scheduled periodic evaluations monitor exposure to risk factors and detect early any health changes caused by the work; they must be carried out according to the worker's age, the type, magnitude, frequency and duration of exposure to each risk factor and the worker's state of health, with criteria defined and justified in the SG-SST's epidemiological surveillance programmes (Article 10(A)). Change-of-occupation evaluations are required whenever the change involves new duties or exposure to new or greater risk factors (Article 10(B)).
Within the SG-SST, companies must define the frequency of occupational medical evaluations, which even in exceptional cases may not exceed three (3) years; the interval must be technically justified by the characteristics of exposure to risk factors, in line with the hazard identification and risk assessment, and the company may draw on its ARL's technical assistance to set it (Article 15). Specific fitness certificates (work at height, electrical work, food handling, confined spaces, firearms, driving) follow their own legislation (Article 15, paragraph 1). Evaluations are carried out by occupational safety and health specialist physicians with a valid licence (Article 17) and their cost is borne entirely by the employer (Article 26, paragraph 2).
At a glance
| Frequency | Set by each company in its SG-SST, technically justified by exposure to risk factors; even in exceptional cases no longer than three (3) years (Article 15 of Resolución 1843 de 2025) |
|---|---|
| Mandatory types | Pre-employment, periodic, exit, post-sick-leave, return-to-work and follow-up or control (Article 8) |
| Who performs it | Occupational safety and health specialist physicians with a valid licence (Article 17) |
| Cost | Borne entirely by the employer; it may not be charged to or requested from the worker, except as provided for contractors in Article 2.2.4.2.2.18 of Decreto 1072 (Article 26, paragraph 2) |
| Timing | Periodic evaluations are scheduled and carried out during working hours (Article 5(c)) |
| After the exam | Adapt working conditions to the recommendations or restrictions within twenty (20) working days and give each worker the medical opinion in writing (Article 5(f) and (i)) |
| Special certificates | Work at height, electrical work, food handling, confined spaces, firearms and driving follow their own specific legislation (Article 15, paragraph 1) |
| Previous rule | Resolución 2346 de 2007 has been repealed (Article 36) |
Who is responsible?
The employer or contracting party: it pays for the evaluations and complementary tests, schedules periodic evaluations during working hours, gives the physician the job profiles, runs the epidemiological surveillance systems and gives each worker the evaluating physician's opinion in writing (Article 5 of Resolución 1843 de 2025). It is responsible for contracting the evaluations and making sure they are carried out by specialist physicians with a valid licence (Article 26, paragraph 1). Decreto 1072 de 2015 requires it to monitor workers' health through pre-employment, periodic and exit medical evaluations (Article 2.2.4.6.24, paragraph 3).
If the deadline passes
Non-compliance with Resolución 1843 de 2025 carries the sanctions provided for in Article 91 of Decreto Ley 1295 de 1994, Article 13 of Ley 1562 de 2012 and Decreto 1072 de 2015 (Article 34). Article 13 of Ley 1562 de 2012 provides for graduated fines according to the seriousness of the breach and, for repeat offences, suspension of activities for up to one hundred and twenty (120) days or permanent closure of the company. Inspection, oversight and control rest with the Ministry of Labour (Article 32, paragraph 1).
No fixed interval in the rule: record the date the physician sets
The rule sets no single interval: each company determines the frequency in its epidemiological surveillance programme, with an exceptional cap of three years (Article 15 of Resolución 1843 de 2025). That is why this document type has no preset validity in the catalogue; for each worker, enter the date of the next evaluation that follows from the programme and the occupational physician's opinion.
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each worker as a record and enter as the expiry date the next periodic evaluation date set by the SG-SST's epidemiological surveillance programme or the occupational physician (Article 15); remember that even in exceptional cases it may not exceed three years.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day, leaving time to book the appointment with the provider during working hours.
- The worker or the provider can upload the occupational medical opinion through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign the SG-SST lead as the responsible person; if an evaluation falls overdue, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How often must the periodic medical exam be done?
- There is no single interval: each company sets the frequency in its SG-SST, technically justified by exposure to risk factors, and even in exceptional cases it may not exceed three (3) years (Article 15 of Resolución 1843 de 2025).
- Is Resolución 2346 de 2007 still in force?
- No. Resolución 1843 de 2025 repealed Resolución 2346 de 2007 and Resolución 1918 de 2009 (Article 36) and allowed six months from its entry into force to implement its provisions (Article 35).
- Who pays for the exam?
- The employer, in full; it may never be charged to or requested from the applicant or worker, except as provided for contractors in Article 2.2.4.2.2.18 of Decreto 1072 de 2015 (Article 26, paragraph 2; Article 5(a)).
- Who may carry out the evaluation?
- Occupational safety and health specialist physicians with a valid licence; where the departmental health secretariat certifies that none are available, physicians with at least two years' experience registered with that secretariat (Article 17).
- What must the employer do with the medical opinion?
- Adapt working conditions to the recommendations or restrictions within no more than twenty (20) working days and give each worker the opinion in writing, keeping evidence of delivery (Article 5(f) and (i)).
Sources
- Resolución 1843 de 2025, Ministry of Labour, occupational medical evaluations (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
- Decreto 1072 de 2015, Articles 2.2.4.2.2.18, 2.2.4.6.24 and 2.2.4.6.36 (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo; in Spanish)
- Ley 1562 de 2012, Article 13 (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo; in Spanish)
Last checked: Oct 7, 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 periodic occupational medical examination (Colombia)
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Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each periodic occupational medical examination (Colombia) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
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