MINSAL approves the update to Protocolo TMERT V3

Protocolo TMERT Version 3: what the update changes and how it lands on site

Today we walk you through, in plain but technical terms, what Version 3 of the Protocolo TMERT (Chile's musculoskeletal risk protocol) brings and why these changes —even the ones that look like “wording”— end up directly affecting how musculoskeletal risk is identified, assessed and controlled on site.

1) Official publication: what was approved and when does it take effect?

Chile's Ministry of Health (MINSAL) approved the document titled “Protocolo de Vigilancia Ocupacional por Exposición a Factores de Riesgo de Trastornos Musculoesqueléticos V3” (Occupational Surveillance Protocol for Exposure to Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Factors, V3) through Resolución Exenta N° 1.697 (Santiago, December 26, 2025), published in the Diario Oficial (Chile's official gazette) on February 25, 2026.

Entry into force

The administrative act itself states that “the present protocol shall enter into force upon its publication in the Diario Oficial”.

➡️ What this means in practice: it is already enforceable as of February 25, 2026 (the publication date).

What it revokes

The resolution also establishes that Resoluciones Exentas N° 327 and N° 1.660, both from 2024, which had been governing the previous version, are left without effect.

Where the full text will be

It orders the full text of the protocol and of the resolution to be published on the MINSAL website, once the resolution has completed its administrative processing.

(The Diario Oficial also notes that the attached protocol runs to 80 pages and forms part of the resolution for legal purposes).

2) Why it was updated (the “technical reason” behind the change)

The Diario Oficial explains that, following queries from administering bodies (Ley 16.744, Chile's workplace accident and occupational disease insurance law), employers and occupational health units, wording was detected that could give rise to interpretations leading to an undervaluation of risks at the Identificación Avanzada (Advanced Identification) stage, which is why updating the protocol was deemed appropriate.

➡️ In plain terms: V3 aims to reduce ambiguity and increase consistency in assessments, especially where interpretation could previously “let through” meaningful exposure.

3) The essentials: changes you actually notice on site

The summary of modifications counts 10 changes in Identificación Avanzada: 9 in acceptable condition and 1 in critical condition.

The key structural change

Identification by “workstation or task”: initial and advanced identification must now account for risks by workstation or by task performed, reinforcing that the assessment shouldn't stop at “one typical task” but cover the real scope of the job.

The adjustments that move the needle most

A) Repetitive work (upper limbs)

• The “less than 4 hours” criterion is made explicit as strict.
• Critical condition for breaks: applies to shifts of 6 to 8 hours (previously understood as 8).

B) Static/awkward postures

• A specific assessment of head flexion < 25° is added for acceptable condition.
• An explicit criterion for extreme wrist deviation (ulnar/radial) is added.
• Wording adjustments to remove double negatives and standardize how it reads on site.

C) Vibration

• Hand-arm: a double question is split in two (unsuitable tool vs. homemade tool) to improve traceability of the finding.
• Whole-body: assessment is made explicit for the absence of a warning from the manufacturer/supplier and for the lack of training for exposed people.

4) What to do now (implementation checklist)

• Update your identification checklists and forms (initial and advanced) with the new questions and wording.
• Align your assessors' criteria: a short internal training session to avoid different “interpretations” between the field and the desk.
• Prioritize high-exposure workstations: repetitiveness, sustained postures (neck/wrist) and vibration.
• Close training and equipment documentation gaps: on vibration, V3 pushes you to evidence supplier/manufacturer warnings and training for exposed workers.

How we see it at Makana

TMERT V3 is an update with a very specific focus: keeping risk from being undervalued because of ambiguity, especially in Identificación Avanzada.

When the standard gets more specific, it also gets easier to turn “compliance” into sustainable action: better-designed breaks, workstation adjustments, task redesign and training that changes behavior.

*Note: This content is informational and does not replace technical, ergonomic or legal advice. For formal implementation, consult your organismo administrador (your mutual insurance body under Ley 16.744) and/or occupational health and safety specialists.