On the state of industrial injuries in organizations of the Vitebsk region

In organizations of the Vitebsk region for the first half of 2020, 8 people died as a result of industrial accidents (9 in the first quarter of 2019) and 44 people sustained severe industrial injuries (34).

In the first half of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, there was a significant increase in the number of severe industrial injuries resulting from road traffic accidents, from 3 to 11 people (more than 3.5 times), which accounted for 25% of the total number of severely injured.

It should also be noted that in the first half of 2020, in addition to the specified 8 fatal industrial accidents on record, 32 people died at work due to illness.

For reference: (first half of 2019 - 23, 2019 - 52, 2018 - 57, 2017 - 43, 2016 - 41, 2015 - 32).

During the reporting period, an increase in fatal industrial injuries was recorded in organizations in the city of Vitebsk - 3 (first half of 2019 - 1), including in organizations of the Administration of the Zheleznodorozhny District of Vitebsk - 2 (first half of 2019 - 0), in organizations of Ushachi, Chashniki districts - 1 (first half of 2019 - 0), in organizations of Polotsk district - 2 (first half of 2019 - 1).

An increase in accidents leading to severe industrial injuries in the current period of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019 was noted in organizations located in the territories of: Vitebsk, Orsha districts - 4 (first half of 2019 - 1), Ushachi district - 3 (0), Chashniki district - 3 (1), Tolochin - 3 (2); Beshenkovichi, Verkhnedvinsk, Gorodok districts - 2 (0), Braslav, Miory, Senno districts - 1 (0), as well as in organizations located in the territory of Oktyabrsky district - 6 (4).

During the reporting period, no cases of industrial injuries, either fatal or resulting in severe industrial injuries, were registered in organizations of 7 districts of the region (Gluboksky, Dokshitsky, Dubrovensky, Lepelsky, Lioznensky, Rossonsky, Sharkovshchinsky).

In the first half of 2020, in

compared to the same period in 2019, there is a decrease in fatal accidents in organizations of communal ownership from 4 to 3 cases, while an increase in fatal injuries is noted in organizations of transport and communications, housing and communal services -1 (first half of 2019 – 0). In organizations of the specified industries, the cases occurred as a result of road traffic accidents.

For January-June 2020, there is a twofold increase in the number of industrial accidents leading to severe injuries in organizations of communal ownership from 14 to 29 cases, including in agricultural organizations from 8 to 17, in housing and communal services organizations from 1 to 4, trade from 0 to 2, transport and communications from 1 to 2, in organizations of other types of activities from 0 to 1.

It should be noted that during this reporting period of 2020, 7 accidents were registered with employees who were intoxicated: 2 fatal accidents and 5 cases with employees who received injuries resulting in a severe outcome (the same period in 2019 – 2: 1 – fatal accident and 1 – resulting in severe injuries):

For reference: On 04.04.2020, 3 employees of the "Zarya" branch of the Closed Joint Stock Company "Vitebskagroproduct", Chashniksky district, were poisoned as a result of drinking hand sanitizer "Maxidez" in a utility room, as a result of which one employee, a repair and maintenance fitter, died (1.2‰), two employees - a disinfeсtor and a general worker received severe injuries, and alcohol was also detected in them - 0.83‰ and 0.23‰ respectively.

Based on the results of completed investigations that occurred in the first half of 2020, the following characteristic causes of accidents have been identified, the number of which has increased compared to the same period last year:

- failure by managers and specialists to fulfill labor protection duties - 17.5% (same period in 2019 – 15%);

- violation by the victim of labor and production discipline, labor protection instructions – 19.3% (17.5%);

- admission of the victim to work without training and knowledge testing on labor protection issues – 8.8% (5%);

- admission of the victim to work without undergoing on-the-job training on labor protection issues and (or) labor protection briefing – 8.8% (2.5%);

During supervisory activities, 2930 violations of labor and labor protection legislation were identified and ordered (recommended) for elimination.

As a result of supervisory activities, 42 employees who had not undergone briefing or labor protection knowledge testing were dismissed from work in organizations upon the instruction of state labor inspectors, and the operation of 59 units of machine tools, machines, and other equipment was suspended.

Vitebsk Regional Department of the Department of State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus