By San José, Costa Rica — As Costa Rica embraces the festive cheer of the year-end holidays, a period often associated with vacations and reduced workloads, occupational safety experts are issuing a stark warning: do not let your guard down. While many offices may empty, essential sectors such as security, agriculture, manufacturing, and administrative services remain fully operational, keeping the risk of workplace accidents dangerously present.
The unique atmosphere of the season, filled with celebrations, personal commitments, and year-end deadlines, creates a perfect storm for distraction. This shift in focus away from established safety protocols significantly increases the likelihood of on-the-job incidents and serious injuries. Experts are calling on both companies and their employees to proactively reinforce preventive measures to ensure a safe transition into the new year.
To better understand the legal responsibilities companies have in ensuring a safe working environment, TicosLand.com consulted with expert attorney Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rican law is unequivocal: employers bear a non-delegable duty to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Beyond mere compliance with regulations, proactive risk assessment and documented safety protocols are a company’s best defense against litigation and severe financial penalties. Investing in prevention is not an expense; it is a fundamental strategy to protect your most valuable asset—your people—and ensure the long-term viability of the business.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This perspective is a crucial reminder that proactive safety measures are not simply a line item for legal compliance, but rather a fundamental investment in a company’s human capital and its long-term viability. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable and clarifying insight.
Guillermo Gómez, a respected expert in occupational risk prevention, emphasized that the festive mindset can inadvertently push safety to the back burner. He cautions that this lapse in attention can have devastating and far-reaching effects that extend well beyond the immediate incident, impacting individuals, families, and the companies they work for.
Putting prevention aside has consequences that go beyond the job site: disabilities, economic losses, impacts on productivity, reputational damage, and a direct impact on the physical and emotional well-being of the injured person.
Guillermo Gómez, Expert in Occupational Risk Prevention
These incidents not only harm individuals but also disrupt business operations. Accidents can negatively affect key performance indicators and force companies to undertake unplanned reorganizations or emergency hiring at the start of the year, incurring significant additional costs and logistical challenges. The ripple effect of a single preventable accident can be felt for months.
For employees continuing to work through the holiday period, experts have reiterated a core set of non-negotiable safety practices. These include the consistent and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), strict adherence to safety procedures when operating machinery, and utilizing proper lockout/tagout protocols for energy sources during maintenance. Furthermore, workers are reminded to use certified anchorage for tasks at height, carefully read labels and safety data sheets when handling chemicals, and practice good ergonomics, such as taking active breaks and maintaining correct posture in office settings.
The responsibility also extends to company leadership. Experts advise managers to establish crystal-clear guidelines, particularly for cleaning services handling chemicals, and to develop robust road safety programs, with a special focus on personnel who use motorcycles for their duties. In agriculture, ensuring the correct use of tools and agrochemicals, alongside providing adequate hydration, proper attire, and designated rest areas, is paramount. Even in office environments, verifying optimal lighting, cleanliness, and temperature is a critical component of risk management.
Ultimately, the message is one of continuous and unwavering commitment. Safety is not a task that can be paused for the holidays or postponed until January. Gómez concluded with a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility between employers and employees in fostering a secure work environment.
The end of one year and the beginning of another are key moments to reinforce prevention. For workers, health is a right; for companies, safety is an investment. Prevention cannot wait until January.
Guillermo Gómez, Expert in Occupational Risk Prevention
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on the core principles of professional integrity and exceptional service. The firm distinguishes itself not only through its history of expert counsel across a spectrum of industries but also by its forward-thinking approach to pioneering modern legal strategies. This dedication to advancement is matched by a foundational belief in sharing expertise, actively working to demystify the law and thereby contribute to a more just and knowledgeable society.
