Summary.
Law 67 of 2015 establishes occupational safety measures for construction works and assigns their supervision to designated personnel. It regulates their duties, appointment, and funding.
What it covers.
- The supervision of occupational safety, health, and hygiene at construction works.
- The appointment and duties of occupational safety personnel.
- The Occupational Safety, Health and Hygiene Fund.
- Institutional coordination on construction safety.
Who it applies to.
- Construction project developers.
- Principal contractors and subcontractors.
- Occupational safety officers and persons in charge of occupational safety.
Key points.
- Construction works have occupational safety officers or persons in charge according to their investment, type, and risk. These personnel verify safety measures and report deficiencies to the Labor Inspection Directorate (Dirección de Inspección de Trabajo).Arts. 1-3
- The Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral) appoints officers and can remove them if they fail to perform their duties. Developers and contractors must follow their recommendations; the Labor Inspection Directorate reports on their work.Arts. 4-6
- Officers and persons in charge must have the training or experience specified for their duties. The Labor Inspection Directorate maintains a database of people who can perform those duties.Arts. 7-8
- For works with an investment below 1 million balboas (B/.1,000.000.00), the developer or contractor appoints a person in charge. Where investment exceeds that amount, one or more officers are appointed based on an assessment of the work’s type and risk.Arts. 9-10
- The developer or principal contractor provides officers with working conditions for their duties. Works on the Panama Canal’s third set of locks follow the rules of the Panama Canal Authority (Autoridad del Canal de Panamá), and the Ministry carries out a specialized training plan.Arts. 12-14
- The Tripartite Commission on Occupational Safety, Health and Hygiene in the Construction Industry is established, comprising the Ministry, the Panamanian Construction Chamber (Cámara Panameña de la Construcción), and the union named in the Law.Art. 15
- The Law repeals three executive decrees concerning occupational safety in construction.Art. 16
Validity and changes.
- Executive Decree 15 of July 3, 2007Art. 16: repeals the decree
- Executive Decree 17 of April 18, 2008Art. 16: repeals the decree
- Executive Decree 19 of February 20, 2014Art. 16: repeals the decree