Cuba updates worker health exam rules
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) released Resolution 116/2026 this week, establishing new standards for occupational health exams for workers exposed to risks on the job.
The resolution replaces a 2014 rule and aims to update how Cuba assesses and protects worker health. MINSAP categorized workplace risks into four groups, chemical, physical, ergonomic, and biological, and detailed specific testing requirements for each. The new rules require pre-employment screenings and regular checkups, with tests tailored to the specific hazards workers face.
For example, employees handling pesticides must have their blood cholinesterase levels checked before starting work, while those exposed to asbestos or silica require chest X-rays and breathing tests. Doctors will then issue certifications confirming a worker’s fitness for duty after each evaluation. Employers in Cuba must now work with the National Health System to provide these exams.
The updated regulation follows the passage of new labor and public health laws and is part of a larger set of rules released by MINSAP and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security concerning workplace health and safety. The full text of Resolution 116/2026 is available on MINSAP’s website.
