The number of severe injuries at enterprises in the Vitebsk region decreased by 15.4% in the first quarter.

April 14, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The number of severe injuries at enterprises in the Vitebsk region in the first quarter of this year decreased by 15.4% compared to the same period in 2008. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Vasily Bulatov, head of the Vitebsk regional department of the State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus. In January-March of this year, 4 workers died and 22 received severe injuries at enterprises and organizations in the region. The number of fatal accidents at work remained at the same level. The most dangerous sectors remain enterprises of the agro-industrial complex and communal property. As the analysis of materials from special investigations conducted last year and in the first quarter of 2009 shows, as well as preliminary data on uninvestigated accidents this year, the main causes of worker deaths and severe injuries remain the human factor. According to the regional department, more than 45% of tragedies occur due to violations of labor and production discipline by the victims, unsatisfactory maintenance and shortcomings in the organization of workplaces. Based on the results of inspections conducted by state labor inspectors in January-March, 159 officials and 130 employers were brought to administrative responsibility in the form of fines for violations of labor protection rules and norms and labor legislation. Fines totaling Br33.4 million and Br68.9 million, respectively, were imposed on them. 102 officials who violated labor protection rules and norms were brought to disciplinary responsibility. Based on the results of special investigations, contracts were terminated in accordance with the requirements of Directive No. 1 with two officials for a single gross violation of labor protection rules that resulted in injury or death of other workers, and with one victim who was at the workplace at the time of injury in a state of alcoholic intoxication. As Vasily Bulatov noted, mass inspections of labor protection conditions in agricultural organizations are being carried out in the region in April to prevent industrial injuries, and in May, construction industry enterprises will be subject to the same control. -0-