A month-long campaign to ensure safe working conditions and labour protection during mass haymaking and fodder harvesting operations has been announced in the Vitebsk region starting from June 10. The corresponding order was signed by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

A month-long campaign to ensure safe working conditions and labour protection during mass haymaking and fodder harvesting operations has been announced in the Vitebsk region starting from June 10. The corresponding order was signed by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Modern fodder harvesting technologies involve the use of complex and high-energy agricultural machinery, which must be operated by qualified personnel with special training.

One of the tasks of local executive and administrative bodies is to ensure healthy and safe working conditions in organisations located within their jurisdiction.

At times, measures taken by managers to reduce or eliminate the risk of worker injury are inadequate, creating preconditions for industrial accidents.

During the month-long campaign, additional steps are being taken to provide workers with personal protective equipment, serviceable tools, machinery, equipment and devices, as well as facilities for meals and rest, and sanitary and auxiliary premises.

During this period, the work of mobile groups is intensified. These groups include representatives from supervisory and control bodies, centres for hygiene, epidemiology and public health, trade unions, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the State Labour Inspectorate.

Since the beginning of the year, several similar events have been organised: a month-long campaign to ensure the safety of workers during the cold period and spring field work.

As a result of the conducted raids, approximately 3,000 gross violations of legislation were identified.

The issue of industrial injuries remains relevant.

The main causes of accidents are:

– failure by managers and specialists to fulfil their labour protection duties,

– unsatisfactory maintenance and deficiencies in the organisation of workplaces.

– violation by the injured parties of labour and production discipline, and labour protection instructions, including being at the workplace while intoxicated.

Approximately 3,000 employees have been held accountable for drinking alcoholic beverages since the beginning of the year, with over 260 of them dismissed.

In accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 5 "On Strengthening Requirements for Managers and Employees of Organizations", 289 officials who committed violations of production and technological, executive, or labor discipline have been brought to disciplinary action.

Thanks to preventive measures, fatal industrial injuries in the region have decreased by half. At the same time, close attention must be paid to cases of injuries of varying severity sustained during working hours.

Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by