Summary/citation: The Constitution of Nicaragua provides an overriding principle for OSH law in Article 82. The General Law on Occupational Hygiene and Safety adopted in 2007 is the leading OSH legislation in Nicaragua. It aims to set up the minimum provisions of OSH measures in the workplace. The Labour Code completes the OSH legislation, in particular, regulations related to occupational hazards. There are also other regulations relating to particular issues concerning pesticides, biological and/or HIV-AIDS hazards.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo.
Summary/citation: The Occupational Health legislation aims at promoting and maintaining the highest degree of physical, mental and social health of workers in all activities; preventing health deterioration caused by working conditions; protecting workers from risks arising from hazardous agents; locating and maintaining workers in adequate conditions to safeguard their physiological and psychological health.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art 3. Para. 7)
Summary/citation: Worker is a person who offers intellectual or material work under the direct or indirect subordination of another person by the means of a labour contract.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 3)
Summary/citation: Migrant workers are included within the scope of OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 761 general de migración y extranjería. (Art. 16)
Summary/citation: Domestic workers are included within the scope of OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 666 de Reformas y Adiciones al Código del Trabajo.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Arts. 145-154)
Related CEACR Comments• Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) Direct Request 2018
Summary/citation: Home workers are included within the scope of OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Arts. 155-160)
Summary/citation: Self-employed workers are included within the scope of OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 19)
Summary/citation: An employer is a person or legal entity responsible for the operation of a company of any nature and with any number of workers under his/her direct or indirect subordination by virtue of labour contracts.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 2)
Summary/citation: OSH legislation applies to all companies and workplaces in the country, in all branches of economic activity, whether of public or private nature.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 2)
Summary/citation: An accident at work is the event or action that inadvertently happens during or arising out of work that results in the death of the worker or produces an organic injury or functional disturbance either temporary or permanent.
It is also considered as an accident at work: a) the accident which occurs in the normal travel between home and the workplace; b) the accident which occurs when the worker follows the order or serves under the authority of the employer, within or out of working hours and workplace; and c) the accident which occurs during the work break or before and after it, if the employee is at the workplace or at the company premises by reason of his/her duties.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art 110)
Summary/citation: The occupational disease is any pathological condition caused by the continued action arisen out of work or the working environment in which the employee provides services, and which results in physical, mental or functional disability, either permanent or temporary, even if the disease is detected when the employment relationship has already finished.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 111)
Summary/citation: A list of occupational diseases is provided as an Annex of the Labour Code.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Annex)
Summary/citation: The competent authority must decide, in 180 days, if any other disease presented by the union or by interested workers could be considered as an occupational disease. The resolution must be published by the Ministry of Labour.
• Ley núm. 456 de adición de riesgos y enfermedades profesionales a la Ley núm. 185, Código del Trabajo. (Art. 4)
Summary/citation: The Ministry of Labour has the overall responsibility regarding the monitoring and control of the compliance with occupational safety and health provisions contained in the Labour Code, in the General Law on Occupational Hygiene and Safety, and in other regulations and standards. This task is undertaken by the General Direction for Hygiene and Safety, which is constituted as the governing body responsible for the national policy in the field, and through the hygiene and safety inspectors.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 304)
Summary/citation: The functions of the General Direction of Hygiene and Safety are:-Rule on any matter relating to health and safety at work;-Receive and process any requests presented in the field of health and safety;-Deal with OSH appealed resolutions;-Impose OSH administrative sanctions if required in relevant regulations;-Promote participation among different sectors in the OSH field;-Conduct studies and research to identify the causes of occupational diseases and industrial accidents;-Prepare national plans and policies on occupational hygiene and safety;-Deal with regulations or technical instructions for the prevention and control of occupational hazards, including the functions of OSH inspectors;-Develop and provide training programs in occupational health and safety; -Decide on compensations to eligible workers not covered by the social security.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 307)
Summary/citation: The higher figures with political leadership in OSH are:- the Labour Minister;- the Labour Vice-Minister;- the General Direction of Occupational Safety and Hygiene;- the National Advisory Committee of Occupational Hygiene and Safety;- Advisory OSH bodies;- Consultation and coordination OSH bodies;- Supporting OSH bodies;- Regulation and implementation OSH bodies.
• Reglamento Orgánico del Ministerio de Trabajo (Arts. 50-53)
Summary/citation: The law provides the General Direction for Hygiene and Safety with the mandate to conduct studies, research and dissemination of statistics about hazardous conditions in the workplace and about the improvement of the work environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, universities and specialized institutions.
Summary/citation: Employers are under the obligation to adopt the necessary preventive measures to ensure effective and appropriate health and safety of workers.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 100)
Summary/citation: Employers must require contractors and subcontractors to comply with the obligations of OSH legislation in their workplaces.
Employers and contractors and subcontractors are jointly liable concerning the obligations regarding OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.9, Arts. 33-35)
Summary / Citation: Employers must ensure medical examinations prior to employment. In addition, for workers exposed to specific risks, employers must ensure a periodical medical examination.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art.18.4 b, Art. 25, Art. 26 c)
Summary / Citation: Employers must monitor the health of workers when the work activity involves elements or factors of industrial exposure to risk.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 23)
Summary / Citation: Employers must provide free personal protective equipment for specific risks. They must also maintain and replace personal protective equipment when necessary.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.14 Arts. 133-138)
Summary / Citation: Employers must systematically monitor the usage of personal protective equipment.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 101 d)
Summary / Citation: Employers are legally bound to maintain a first-aid kit with adequate supplies of medicines and other first-aid items. Employers must provide training to workers on first-aid measures and signpost first-aid equipment.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.10, Art. 18.16, Art. 21, Art. 139 Para. 6)
Summary / Citation: The maintenance of toilets, changing rooms, closets, sinks, showers, provision of soap and toilet paper are legally required. The law requires employers to keep all installations clean.
• Decreto núm. 96-2007 por el que se dicta el Reglamento de la Ley núm. 618, General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo. (Arts. 106-113)
Summary / Citation: Employers must make drinking water available and accessible to workers in proportion to the number of workers.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 102)
Summary / Citation: The requirements for dormitories, eating and resting areas are detailed and provided in specific regulations.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 96-100)
Summary/citation: Employers shall plan preventive actions in order to avoid risks, assess risks which cannot be avoided, fight risks at source, adapt work to the individual, replace dangerous practices, take steps to ensure collective and individual protection, and provide workers with appropriate OSH information.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art.18.4 c)
Summary/citation: Employers, taking into account the types of risks workers are exposed to, and in correspondence with the size and complexity of the workplace, are required to designate at least one person with training in occupational safety and health to deal exclusively with OSH issues and who shall be responsible for the promotion, prevention and protection in relation to OSH issues.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.3)
Summary/citation: Employers shall make an initial assessment that includes a mapping of specific occupational risks present in the undertaking and its corresponding plan of prevention and promotion of health at work. The assessment shall be updated as working conditions change or changes are made in the production process, and reviewed, if necessary, when health damage has occurred.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.5, Art. 114)
Summary/citation: Employers are obliged to set technical regulations on occupational safety and health to standardize the prevention and protection measures and to establish procedures for the different OSH activities at the workplace.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 61)
Summary/citation: Employers must provide the means for workers to receive free training and information through OSH training programs in the workplace. Employers must ensure the development of training OSH programmes is related to the hazards assessment plan through the scheduling of these trainings in the annual plan of activities.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 19-22)
Summary/citation: Employers shall make an initial assessment that includes a mapping of specific occupational risks of the undertaking and its corresponding plan of prevention and promotion of health at work. The assessment shall be updated as working conditions change or changes are made in the production process, and reviewed, if necessary, when health damage has occurred.
Summary/citation: Workers are required to participate in the joint health and safety committee and choose their delegates to the committee.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 32)
Summary / Citation: Employers, taking into account the types of risk workers are exposed to, and in correspondence with the size and complexity of the workplace, are required to designate at least one person with training in occupational safety and health to deal exclusively with OSH issues, and who shall be responsible for the promotion, prevention and protection of OSH activities.
Summary/citation: Employers, taking into account the types of risk workers are exposed to, and in correspondence with the size and complexity of the workplace, are required to designate at least one person with training in occupational safety and health to deal exclusively with OSH issues, and who shall be responsible for the promotion, prevention and protection of OSH activities.
Summary / Citation: Workers shall follow the orders and instructions given for their own safety and health, the health of their coworkers and other persons in the workplace in order to comply with the OSH regulations or provisions.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 32.1)
Summary / Citation: Workers are required to participate in the joint health and safety committee and choose their delegates to the committee.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 32.8)
Summary / Citation: Employers must reassign a worker with a permanent or temporary disability.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 113 f)
Summary / Citation: Employers or their representatives are required to constitute, in their workplaces, a joint committee on occupational safety and health, which shall be integrated by an equal number of representatives of the employer and of the workers.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 41)
Summary / Citation: The number of representatives in the joint committee on occupational safety and health has a direct relationship with the number of workers in the undertaking or workplace, according to a minimum scale from 1 in undertakings up to 50 workers to 10 where there are more than 2501 workers.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 43)
Summary / Citation: Up to 50 workers: 1 representativeFrom 51 to 100 workers: 2 representativesFrom 101 to 500 workers: 3 representativesFrom 501 to 1000 workers: 4 representativesFrom 1001-1500 workers: 5 representativesFrom 1501 to 2500 workers: 8 representativesFrom 2501 to more workers: 10 representatives
Summary / Citation: The joint committee on occupational safety and health shall support the entreprise in monitoring and controlling compliance with the provisions adopted in the prevention of occupational hazards.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 56 b)
Summary / Citation: The joint committee on occupational safety and health must know and analyze the damages to the health of workers in order to evaluate their causes and propose appropriate measures.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 56 f)
Summary / Citation: The members of the joint committee on occupational safety and health must dispose of the necessary time to perform their duties according to the terms stipulated by the collective agreement or established in the internal regulations of the committee.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 57)
Summary / Citation: The joint committee on occupational health and safety shall inform the employer so that he/she if needed, takes the decision concerning the cessation of activities that pose a serious and immediate hazard to the health and safety of workers.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 56 g)
Summary / Citation: Workers are required to participate in the joint committee on occupational safety and health and choose their delegates to the committee. Workers' representatives must be designated by the Union and its representatives, and in their absence, workers' representatives must be elected by the employees on the basis of a majority vote every two years.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 32.8, Arts. 45-46)
Summary / Citation: Employers or their representatives are required to constitute in their workplaces the joint committee on occupational safety and health, which shall be integrated by an equal number of representatives of the employer and of the workers.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 18.7, Art. 41, Art. 43)
Summary / Citation: Functions of the joint committee on occupational safety and health:- Cooperate in the risks assessment at the workplace;- Assist in monitoring and control of preventive measures;- Propose OSH preventive measures;- Encourage the cooperation of workers in the implementation of OSH preventive and protective measures;- Raise awareness and disseminate the decisions about OSH preventive measures;- Analyse and evaluate causes of risk to the health of workers;- Inform the employer about the necessity to cease dangerous work;- Participate and be informed of the labour authority proceedings in the workplace;- Encourage the OSH culture at work;- Other functions as required by the undertaking.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 56)
Summary / Citation: Decisions taken during the meetings of the joint committee on occupational safety and health must be recorded.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 60)
Summary / Citation: Decisions taken during the meetings of the joint committee on occupational safety and health must be recorded and the minutes must be made available to the labour authorities at their request.
Summary / Citation: Employers are required to provide training on OSH to the members of the joint committee on occupational safety and health.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 58)
Summary / Citation: During the term of office, members of the joint committee on occupational safety and health shall not be dismissed for reasons attributed to the performance of their duties as members of the committee, except with the authorization of the Ministry of Labour.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 47)
• Norma Ministerial de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo aplicada en la Prevención de los Riesgos Biológicos, provocados por agentes biológicos, con énfasis ante el VIH/SIDA. (Art. 3 c)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 171-177)
Related CEACR Comments• Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) Direct Request 2014
Summary / Citation: Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of products and chemicals shall package and label them so as to clearly identify contents and associated risks. They also have to provide to the Ministry of Labour safety data sheets containing specific information on the chemical products. Information necessary to ensure the proper use of chemicals must be provided. Additional preventive measures have to be taken in specific cases and the use of protective equipment for each case must also be indicated.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 36-39)
• Ley básica para la regulación y control de plaguicidas, sustancias tóxicas, peligrosas y otras similares. (Art .5.3)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 292-298)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 126-128)
Related CEACR Comments• Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) Observation 2009• Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) Direct Request 2004
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 121)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 290)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 73- 78)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 118-120, Arts. 222-223)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 178-197)
• Norma Ministerial de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo aplicada en la Prevención de los Riesgos Biológicos, provocados por agentes biológicos, con énfasis ante el VIH/SIDA. (Art. 3 g)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 3 Para. 7)
• Ley básica para la regulación y control de plaguicidas, sustancias tóxicas, peligrosas y otras similares. (Art. 1)
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Arts. 151-170)
Related CEACR Comments• Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119) Observation 2014• Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119) Direct Request 1991
Summary / Citation: Pregnant workers are entitled to 12 weeks of rest. During that time they cannot be dismissed.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Arts. 140-142, Art. 144)
Summary / Citation: Employers must provide places for lactating workers to feed their children. Lactating workers shall be entitled to 15 minutes every 3 hours during the working day to feed their children. This time shall be counted as paid working time.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 143)
Summary / Citation: Employers are obliged to cease dangerous tasks for pregnant workers. In such cases, pregnant workers must be reassigned to tasks that do not expose them to hazards without a decrease in the salary.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 140)
Related CEACR Comments• Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45) Direct Request 2014
Summary / Citation: Employees between the ages of 14 and 18 are not allowed to develop certain tasks when the nature or circumstances of the work could damage their physical or mental health, moral and spiritual condition and personal development. Examples include but are not limited to: work performed in unhealthy places, mines or confined spaces; handling toxic substances or heavy loads; work in nightclubs or situations that can expose them to sexual exploitation; work in dangerous heights or under extreme temperatures and levels of noise or vibration; and work involving dangerous machinery, equipment and tools.
• Ley núm. 185 por la que se dicta el Código del Trabajo. (Art. 130, Art. 133)
Related CEACR Comments• Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Observation 2018• Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Direct Request 2018
Summary / Citation: Employers are required to maintain a register with statistics on occupational accidents and to analyse their causes.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 31, Art 115 c)
Summary / Citation: Employers are required to maintain a register with statistics on occupational diseases and to analyse their causes.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art 31, Art 115 c)
Summary / Citation: Employers must report minor accidents to the Ministry of Labour within 5 working days, with the exception of severe and fatal accidents, which must be reported within 24 hours after the accident.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 28)
Summary / Citation: The intervention, monitoring and enforcement of OSH provisions is the obligation of the Ministry of Labour through the General Direction for Safety and Health who will appoint safety and health inspectors to:1. Advice and solve matters concerning occupational safety and health;2. Receive and process applications on safety and health conditions;3. Confirm, modify or cancel contested decisions;4. Identify OSH violations and impose sanctions;5. Promote participation in the development of safety and health activities;6. Conduct studies and research on identifying the causes of occupational diseases and accidents;7. Develop national policies on occupational safety and health;8. Establish collaboration and assistance with domestic and foreign universities;9. Develop and propose regulations or instructions to prevent and control occupational hazards;10. Develop occupational safety and health training programs;11. Decide on the compensation of workers who are not covered by social insurance but who are entitled to it after an occupational accident.
Summary / Citation: OSH inspectors are empowered to perform inspections on safety and health any day, time, ex-officio or upon request. Inspectors are authorised to enter the workplace without previous authorisation as long as they bring proper identification.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 308)
Summary / Citation: Inspectors have the power to practice any investigative action, including interviewing workers, examining documents and other related actions. Inspectors are empowered to gather evidence of all the productive process.
• Decreto núm. 96-2007 por el que se dicta el Reglamento de la Ley núm. 618, General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo. (Art. 41.4, Art. 41.5)
Summary / Citation: Inspectors have the power to practice any investigative action, including interviewing workers, examining documents and other related matters. Inspectors have the power to gather evidence of all the productive process.
Summary / Citation: Inspectors must provide technical advice to employers and workers concerning the most effective form to adapt technical provisions related to the control of risk factors.
Summary / Citation: After visiting the workplace, inspectors shall warn the employer about OSH issues noticed in order for him/her to take certain steps immediately, if needed. In other circumstances, inspectors may give the employer a time frame to ensure compliance with the provisions relating to the safety and health of workers.
• Decreto núm. 96-2007 por el que se dicta el Reglamento de la Ley núm. 618, General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo. (Art. 41.7 a Art. 41.7 c)
Summary / Citation: The Inspectorate has the power to impose financial penalties and sanctions for violations of OSH legislation.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 307 f )
Summary / Citation: The Inspectorate has the power to require the immediate cessation of dangerous work and machinery when there is an imminent or serious danger to the life or health of workers. The employer shall be notified.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 307 b)
Summary / Citation: The inspectors have the power to require police assistance to enter the workplace and fulfil their functions.
• Ley núm. 618 General de Higiene y Seguridad del Trabajo de 19 de abril de 2007. (Art. 310)
Summary / Citation: The possibility of prosecution for manslaughter is foreseen by the Criminal Code.
• Ley núm. 641 que dicta el Código Penal. (Art. 141)
