Venezuela: Health and safety

Original and updating author: Juan Carlos Varela, Littler

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Summary

• Employers are under a constitutional obligation to guarantee adequate safety, hygiene and environmental conditions at work for employees. (See General)
• Employers and employees have various duties regarding health and safety. (See Duties on employers and employees)
• Employees have a general right to work in an environment that is conducive to the full exercise of their physical and mental faculties, and that guarantees their health, safety and wellbeing. (See Rights of employees)
• Employees in each workplace must elect one or more "prevention delegates". (See Safety representatives)
• Enforcement of compliance with health and safety legislation is the responsibility of, mainly, the statutory National Institute for Prevention and Labour Health and Safety, and also of the labour inspectorate, both of which form part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. (See Enforcement and penalties)
• Statutory occupational accident and illness insurance is included in the general social security system administered by the Venezuelan Social Security Institute, with which all employers and employees must be registered. (See Compensation for occupational injury or illness)