Comparación de los sistemas de gestión de seguridad y salud ocupacional: ISO 45001 y normativa ecuatoriana

Abstract

Abstract: This research conducted a detailed study of the convergence and divergence between the international standard ISO 45001:2018 and current Ecuadorian legislation regarding occupational health and safety (OHS), considering instruments such as Executive Decree 255, Ministerial Agreement MDT-2020-077, the technical regulations of the IESS (Institutional Institute of Social Security), the Labor Code, and the Andean Instrument. Regarding fundamental concepts like risk identification, preventative organization, employee involvement, and operational control, a high level of regulatory compatibility was found. However, notable disparities were also found in areas like formal evaluation of legal compliance, management review, internal audits, change management, and structured documentation. As a result, specific recommendations were made to fortify the national regulatory framework in line with the continuous, methodical, and preventive improvement approaches that ISO 45001:2018 advocates. This study suggests that Ecuador has a solid regulatory foundation; however, it needs technical and regulatory modifications to establish an OSH management model that fully aligns with international standards.