On October 18, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. In the Vitebsk region, during January-September, 24 workers died at work and 66 received severe injuries, which exceeds last year's level by 20% and 3.1% respectively. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Sergey Anufriev, First Deputy Head of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the State Labour Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. According to operational data, an increase in fatal injuries is noted in Orsha, Novopolotsk, Verkhnedvinsk, Dokshitsky, Dubrovenky, Ushachsky districts, and in the Pervomaisky and Oktyabrsky districts of Vitebsk. An increase in the number of severe injuries occurred in Verkhnedvinsk, Gluboksky, Dubrovenky, Polotsky, Chashniksky, Shumilinsky, Lepelsky, Lioznensky, Miorsky, Tolochinsky districts, Polotsk and Orsha. An analysis of the circumstances under which accidents occurred (operation of equipment not meeting requirements, absence of guards on equipment and in workplaces, disregard by workers of elementary safety requirements and labour discipline when performing high-risk work, etc.) indicates that accidents primarily occur due to the lack of systematic control in enterprises and organizations over compliance with labour protection legislation, emphasized Sergey Anufriev. The issue of alcohol consumption at the workplace remains relevant. Thus, every fourth fatal accident in the reporting period occurred with workers who were intoxicated. In the structure of severe injuries for this reason, it accounts for 11.3% compared to 4.7% last year. In addition, 68% of accidents with severe consequences are due to the low level of labour and performance discipline of workers, managers, and specialists. These circumstances indicate a decrease in the level of labour and performance discipline on the part of middle managers and specialists, as well as the workers themselves, concluded Sergey Anufriev.-0-

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