REGULATORY EVOLUTION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN COLOMBIA AND ECUADOR: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGULATORY MILESTONES AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS THROUGH 2026

Objective. To analyze the historical, regulatory, and institutional evolution of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Colombia and Ecuador, identifying their main transformations and advances in worker protection and occupational risk prevention. Method.  comparative historical-descriptive analysis was conducted based on a review of the regulatory, institutional, and policy evolution of OSH in Colombia and Ecuador. Laws, decrees, institutions, and key conceptual changes in both countries were examined, considering the influence of international organizations and recent contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Results. In Colombia, the regulation of occupational accidents began in 1915, followed by the progressive development of public policies, the creation of the Colombian Social Security Institute, Law 100 of 1993, the 1991 Political Constitution, and the structuring of the General System of Occupational Risks. Subsequently, the concept evolved from “occupational health” to “Occupational Safety and Health (OSH),” becoming consolidated through Decree 1072 of 2015, which integrates labor regulations and establishes the mandatory implementation of OSH Management Systems in all organizations.

In Ecuador, regulatory development began around 1985, driven by industrialization, social protection, and ILO recommendations. The Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) plays a central role in occupational risk monitoring. In recent decades, regulations on industrial hygiene, accident prevention, and psychosocial risk management have been strengthened. Both countries incorporated new approaches after the COVID-19 pandemic, including biosecurity measures, mental health strategies, and remote work modalities. Conclusion. Although Colombia has a broader and earlier regulatory trajectory, Ecuador has shown rapid progress in recent decades. Overall, both countries reflect a transition from compensation-based models toward comprehensive preventive occupational health and safety management systems.