Psychosocial risk battery in Colombia 2026: when to apply it, what Resolution 2764 of 2022 requires and how to use the results in the SG-SST
The battery of instruments for assessing psychosocial risk factors has been, since Resolution 2646 of 2008, Colombia’s reference tool for identifying and measuring intra-work and extra-work factors and stress. Resolution 2764 of 2022 adopted the Battery, the General Technical Guide and their protocols as mandatory minimum technical references, and made virtual administration conditional on the official practical tool to be published by the Ministry of Labour, subject to the information-security conditions in its Article 4. Decree 1040 of 2026 also requires each workplace harassment case to trigger an assessment of the associated psychosocial risk within the SG-SST. This guide explains when to administer the Battery, who may do so and how to use its results in the SG-SST.
What the psychosocial risk battery is
It is a set of instruments validated by the Ministry of Labour and the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: a general data form, intra-work psychosocial risk factor questionnaires (forms A and B depending on job level), an extra-work questionnaire, a stress assessment questionnaire and complementary guides (interviews and focus groups). It assesses domains such as leadership and social relations, control over work, work demands and rewards.
What Resolution 2764 of 2022 requires
- Adopts the Battery, the General Technical Guide and their protocols as mandatory minimum technical references; virtual administration is permitted only through the official practical tool once it has been published by the Ministry of Labour and subject to the information-security conditions in Article 4.
- Keeps the obligation to assess psychosocial risk factors in all companies, under Resolution 2646 of 2008.
- Administration must be carried out by a psychologist holding a postgraduate qualification in occupational health and a valid licence to provide occupational psychology services. The exception in Article 3(p) of Resolution 2646 of 2008 applies only where the Health Secretariat certifies that no such specialist is available in the department; in that case at least 100 hours of specific training are required while the situation persists.
- Requires informed consent, confidentiality and safekeeping of individual information (confidentiality of the occupational medical record).
- Results must be delivered to the company in aggregated form, with a report and intervention recommendations.
Frequency: when to apply it
Article 3 of Resolution 2764 of 2022 requires annual assessment where harmful intra-work psychosocial factors have been rated high risk or are causing adverse effects on health, well-being or work, and assessment every two years where the level is medium or low. The period runs from the start of the immediate intervention and control measures. It is also advisable to repeat or complement it when conditions change (restructurings, new shifts under the labour reform, mergers); Decree 1040 of 2026 requires an assessment of the psychosocial risk associated with each harassment or violence case to be triggered, but administration of the Battery follows the criteria and frequency of Resolution 2764.
How to use the results in the SG-SST
- Results report by area, job or site, with risk levels by domain and dimension.
- Intervention plan with organisational measures (leadership, workload, role clarity, recognition), owners, dates and resources, integrated into the annual work plan.
- Psychosocial epidemiological surveillance programme to follow up cases and high-risk groups.
- Indicators: assessment coverage, percentage of high-risk areas, plan progress, associated absenteeism.
- Coordination with the workplace coexistence committee, the Decree 1040 of 2026 policy and mental health.
- Senior management review with aggregated results and the decisions taken.
Psychosocial risk and biomechanical risk
Mental workload, pace and lack of breaks also aggravate biomechanical risk. It is worth reading psychosocial results alongside the ergonomic assessment to prioritise interventions with a double effect. See ergonomic assessment methods.
Common mistakes
- Administering the Battery without a psychologist holding a postgraduate occupational health qualification and a valid licence, or without informed consent.
- Handing individual results to the company.
- Not drawing up an intervention plan or not including it in the annual work plan.
- Failing to follow the applicable frequency: annually for high risk or adverse effects and every two years for medium or low risk.
How Sabentis helps
Sabentis does not replace the Battery’s official practical tool; it complements it. Its safety, health and well-being modules record the planning and coverage of the assessment, store aggregated reports with access control, turn recommendations into an intervention plan with follow-up and feed the SG-SST indicators, linked to the coexistence committee and to Decree 1040 of 2026 management. Read more in mental health at work.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply the psychosocial risk battery?
A psychologist holding a postgraduate qualification in occupational health and a valid licence to provide occupational psychology services, subject to the territorial exception in Article 3(p) of Resolution 2646 of 2008; the ARL can advise, but the administration must meet this requirement.
Is it mandatory in small companies?
Yes. The assessment of psychosocial risk factors applies to all employers, with a proportionate scope.
How long are the results kept?
The instruments and individual reports form part of the occupational medical record and must remain in the custody of the provider or competent psychologist; the employer retains only consolidated reports in the SG-SST files. Where a record falls within Article 2.2.4.6.13 of Decree 1072 of 2015, the minimum retention period is 20 years from the end of the employment relationship.
