An earthquake may last only seconds, but the consequences of improvisation can last for years. Business preparedness is not a few signs on a wall. It means knowing who leads the response, how people are protected and what must be checked before operations resume.
The earthquake that shook Colombia on August 10
At 7:34 a.m., a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred near San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 103 kilometers. According to the Colombian Geological Service, it was the highest-magnitude event recorded in Colombia in the twenty-first century. By noon, the agency had located 18 aftershocks.
The event occurred as many organizations were opening or preparing for the workday. This raises a practical question: what would have happened if an employee had been injured, an exit had been blocked, a visitor remained unaccounted for, or the workforce evacuated without clear instructions?
Prevention is not about guessing when the next event will occur. It is about reducing potential consequences. The Geological Service reports that Colombia records approximately 2,500 earthquakes per month on average, although most are not felt.
An emergency plan is part of the mandatory SG-SST
Article 2.2.4.6.25 of Decree 1072 of 2015 requires employers and contracting parties to implement and maintain measures to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies as part of Colombia’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System, known as SG-SST.
The plan must cover all workplaces and shifts. It must include workers regardless of their contractual status, as well as contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and visitors. A protocol known only to administration, or one that omits warehouses, stores, construction sites or special shifts, is insufficient.
The same rule allows the response to be coordinated with local or regional disaster-risk-management authorities and, where appropriate, linked to business-continuity plans.
The 13 minimum requirements under Decree 1072 of 2015
The rule requires more than a written document. The company must understand its risks, provide resources and demonstrate effective response capacity.
Identify hazards
Systematically identify internal and external events that may affect each workplace. Earthquake risk must be assessed in light of location, building conditions and the activity performed.
Inventory available resources
Identify the people, equipment, first-aid kits, alarms, communications, controls and support networks available to the organization.
Analyze vulnerability
Determine how employees, visitors, facilities, equipment, information and business continuity could be affected.
Assess and evaluate risk
Consider the number of exposed workers and the potential effects on the company’s assets and services.
Design prevention and control procedures
Define measures that prevent or control priority hazards and reduce the impact of other hazards.
Prepare the emergency plan
Specify how the organization will respond when a potentially disastrous event is imminent or occurs.
Allocate necessary resources
Provide funding, personnel, time and equipment so programs and procedures can actually be carried out.
Reduce vulnerability
Implement feasible measures, including facility plans, evacuation routes and suitable assembly points.
Inform, educate and train
Prepare every worker to act and protect health and safety during an actual or potential emergency.
Conduct an annual drill
Run at least one drill each year with the participation of all workers and evaluate the results.
Establish an emergency response team
Train and equip the team according to the organization’s risk level and resources, including first-aid response.
Inspect equipment
Periodically verify warning systems, signs, alarms and other equipment to ensure they are available and functional.
Develop mutual-aid plans
Coordinate resources and action with neighboring organizations and align with emergency plans in the surrounding area.
How should the plan work during an earthquake?
Instructions must be adapted to each workplace. Layout, building type, business activity, occupancy and additional hazards make a one-size-fits-all form inadequate.
Before an earthquake
Identify safe areas and items that could fall or move, including shelves, filing cabinets, glass, lighting, suspended ceilings, equipment and hazardous substances. Keep exits clear, mark evacuation routes and assembly points, test alarms, and assign responsible persons for each area and shift.
The protocol must address assistance for persons with reduced mobility, pregnant workers, injured persons and visitors unfamiliar with the premises. The organization also needs a current way to know who is on site and to conduct a reliable head count.
During an earthquake
Workers must follow the self-protection measures defined for the building and the activity. An evacuation should not be improvised while the shaking is underway. The procedure should explain when people must protect themselves and when evacuation is safe, while prohibiting running, pushing, returning for belongings or using elevators.
Emergency personnel must guide staff and activate communications. Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management recommends identifying safe areas and assembly points in advance and participating in drills.
After an earthquake
The company must account for people, provide first aid, report incidents and restrict entry to unsafe areas. Cracks, falling material, electrical damage, leaks, deformation or other signs of damage require assessment by technically competent personnel before re-entry is authorized.
The response must also be documented: timing, alarm performance, evacuation routes, head counts, treatment of injuries, communication failures and decisions made. This review supports updates to the vulnerability assessment and corrective action.
A document in a folder does not mean the company is prepared
A common error is to file a generic form and produce it only during an inspection or audit. The plan must reflect each workplace, remain current and be supported by verifiable records.
| Requirement | Record the company should retain |
|---|---|
| Hazards and vulnerability | An updated matrix or analysis for each workplace |
| Plan and procedures | Current plan, assigned roles, version control and evidence that it was communicated |
| Training | Attendance records, materials covered and assessments |
| Annual drill | Planning, attendance, response times, results report and improvement plan |
| Emergency response team | Appointments, education, practical training and equipment records |
| Equipment and alarms | Inventories, inspections, maintenance and functionality tests |
| Mutual aid | Contacts, agreements and evidence of coordination with neighboring organizations |
| Actual emergency | Activation record, incidents, decisions and corrective measures |
What should your company review after the earthquake?
The August 10 event provides an opportunity to confirm whether the system works beyond paper. Recommended immediate checks include:
- Confirm whether anyone was injured or any workplace was damaged.
- Inspect facilities and restrict access to areas showing signs of damage.
- Confirm whether alarms, communications, the emergency team and head counts at assembly points worked as intended.
- Record errors or difficulties observed during the response.
- Update the hazard and vulnerability assessment where necessary.
- Assign owners, deadlines and resources for corrective action.
- Reinforce training and confirm that the annual drill is scheduled.
The plan must be understood, practiced, assessed and improved. The annual drill is a minimum legal requirement, not the only time the company should review its response capacity.
Official sources
- Decree 1072 of 2015 — Colombia’s Public Service legal database, particularly Article 2.2.4.6.25.
- Statement on the August 10, 2026 earthquake — Colombian Geological Service.
- Earthquake prevention measures — National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.
Seismic information reflects the statement available on August 10, 2026 and may change as authorities issue additional reports.
Review the plan before the next emergency
Honor Legal helps companies conduct the legal review of their SG-SST and internal protocols, working alongside the appropriate technical professionals.
You may also email honorlegal@hotmail.com.
This article provides general information and does not replace individual legal advice, a technical SG-SST assessment or an evaluation of the specific conditions at each workplace.