Labor protection standards are systematically violated at enterprises in the Vitebsk region

Violations of labor protection legislation in enterprises and organizations of the Vitebsk region are systemic. This opinion was expressed to a BELTA correspondent by Svetlana Golovey, Chief State Labor Inspector of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

In January-October 2012, six cases of severe employee injuries occurred at enterprises and organizations in the region, which is two more than in the same period last year. Such incidents took place at the unitary enterprise of housing and communal services of the Vitebsk region "Vitraykomkhoz", the agricultural production cooperative "Olgovskoye", the limited liability company "Alfa", and open joint-stock companies "Rudakovo" and "Lipovtsy".

During the reporting period, state labor inspectors conducted 16 inspections in the Vitebsk region to ensure compliance with labor protection legislation, and issued 14 orders. In particular, the operation of 27 units of production equipment was prohibited, and 13 employees performing high-risk work without undergoing training and knowledge testing on labor protection were suspended from production activities. 13 officials of enterprises and organizations were brought to administrative responsibility in the form of fines totaling Br9.6 million.

"Overall, violations of labor protection norms and rules in the inspected organizations of the region are systemic. The state of labor protection is not analyzed at enterprises, and newly introduced regulatory legal documents are not studied. This indicates insufficient attention from the management and specialists of enterprises to the functioning of the labor protection management system, the possibilities of managing production risks, and the planning and financing of measures to improve working conditions and labor protection," stated Svetlana Golovey.

Olga Bogacheva - BELTA