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

According to operational data from the regional department, 5 people died as a result of industrial accidents in organizations of the Vitebsk region in Q1 2020 (Q1 2019 – 10), and 20 people sustained severe industrial injuries (18).

Thus, a twofold decrease in fatal accidents is noted at enterprises of the Vitebsk region, with an 11.1% increase in accidents leading to severe industrial injuries compared to the same period in 2019.

In Q1 2020, in addition to the specified 5 fatal accidents recorded, 16 people died at work due to pre-existing conditions of the employee (Q1 2019 - 12).

During the reporting period, an increase in fatal industrial injuries was recorded in organizations in the city of Vitebsk – 3 (Q1 2019 - 1), including in organizations of the Administration of the Zheleznodorozhny District of Vitebsk – 2 (Q1 2019 - 0). At the same time, the number of fatally injured persons during this reporting period remained at the 2019 level in organizations of the Tolochin District, Administration of the Oktyabrsky District of Vitebsk – 1 (1).

An increase in accidents leading to severe industrial injuries in the current period of 2020 compared to Q1 2019 was noted in organizations located in the Vitebsk and Beshenkovichi districts – 2 (Q1 2019 – 0), Gorodok, Miory, Senno, Chashniki, Sharkovshchina districts – 1 (0). Additionally, in organizations in the city of Vitebsk – 5 (2), including in organizations located in the Oktyabrsky District – 3 (1); Administration of the Pervomaisky District of Vitebsk – 1 (0).

The number of employees who sustained severe industrial injuries remained at the 2019 level in organizations of the Liozno, Orsha, Postavy districts and organizations located within the territory of the Zheleznodorozhny District Administration – 1 (Q1 2019 – 1).

In Q1 2020, a decrease in fatal accidents was observed in organizations of communal ownership from 5 to 2 cases, with an increase

fatal injuries are noted in transport and communications organizations -1 (Q1 2019 – 0), and in housing and communal services organizations remained at the 2019 level – 1 case. In the specified organizations, cases occurred as a result of road traffic accidents. It should be noted that cases of fatal injuries in agricultural organizations in this reporting period were not registered.

In this reporting period, a significant increase in the number of occupational accidents leading to severe injuries in organizations of communal ownership from 6 to 14 cases, including in organizations of agriculture from 4 to 10, in trade organizations from 0 to 2, transport and communications from 0 to 1, in organizations of other types of activities from 0 to 1.

A significant decrease in fatal occupational injuries occurred in organizations of republican ownership - from 4 to 1, and also significantly decreased in these organizations the number of accidents leading to severe injuries (from 8 cases to 3), while an increase in the number of occupational accidents causing severe injuries in organizations of the concern Bellegprom and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus – 1 (Q1 2019 - 0).

During this period, fatal accidents in organizations occurred under the following circumstances:

- as a result of road traffic accidents - 2 cases;

- as a result of falls from a height of 2 cases (1 - at a construction site, the worker was intoxicated - 2.48‰; 1 – during loading and unloading operations);

- as a result of exposure to rotating parts - 1 case (lacerations from a cutting tool at a construction site);

Accidents leading to severe occupational injuries in the current period of 2020 in organizations of the Vitebsk region occurred under the following circumstances:

- as a result of road traffic accidents - 1 case (falling from a moving vehicle, alcohol content 2.64‰);

- as a result of falls by workers - 5 cases (including falls by workers occurred during falls from vehicles - 2 cases during loading and unloading; 2 – during maintenance (repair) of equipment (manure removal system), utilities (building sewage system) (in one of the cases, the person was intoxicated, but the fact is not confirmed

documents, as the doctor was consulted the day after the incident); when moving on a level surface - 1);

- as a result of falling (collapse) of objects, materials, etc. onto employees – 6 cases (2 – during logging operations; 4 – during vehicle repair operations);

- as a result of exposure to the victim of moving, flying objects and parts, mechanisms – 2 cases (1 – destruction of elements (pipes) of the heating system; 1 – impact of the manure removal system mechanism (the employee was intoxicated at 2.56‰));

For reference: in the first quarter of 2020, 4 accidents involving employees who were intoxicated were registered: 1 fatal accident and 3 cases with employees who sustained severe injuries (the same period in 2019 – 3 fatal, severe injuries – 0):

Fatal accident

05.02.2020 a roofer of the Limited Liability Company "Prof NK" (Vitebsk, Zheleznodorozhny district), while performing roofing work, being intoxicated at 2.48‰, while lifting (lowering) cargo from the roof, fell together with the hoist.

Accidents causing severe injuries

22.02.2020 a mechanic for repairing agricultural machinery and equipment of OJSC "Adamenki", Liozno district, while servicing a manure removal conveyor that was switched on, sustained a traumatic amputation of his right foot. The employee was intoxicated at 2.56‰.

20.02.2020 an operator of milking machines of the Communal Production Unitary Enterprise "Yazno", Miory district, after finishing milking at the dairy farm, on her way home, while moving on a trailer, being heavily intoxicated (2.64‰), attempted to get off the trailer before the tractor stopped, fell to the ground, sustaining severe injuries as a result of the fall.

10.01.2020 a livestock specialist of the MTF "Rassvet" of the Communal Unitary Production (Agricultural) Enterprise named after Markov, Sharkovshchyna district, around 11:00 at MTF "Rassvet", while attempting to repair an inclined conveyor, being intoxicated, fell from a height and sustained

injuries. Was intoxicated on the day of the injury. This is confirmed by the testimony of employees (admitted to hospital the next day, no samples were taken. Upon admission, the victim stated that the injury was sustained at home).

Based on the results of completed investigations, the characteristic causes of accidents that occurred in the first quarter of 2020 have been identified:

-failure of managers and specialists to fulfil their duties regarding occupational safety - 13.6%;

- the victim being in a state of alcohol intoxication – 18.2%;

- violation by the victim of labour and production discipline, occupational safety instructions – 13.6%;

- personal negligence – 13.6%;

- allowing the victim to work without training and knowledge testing on occupational safety issues – 9.1%;

- allowing the victim to work without undergoing a probationary period on occupational safety issues and/or an occupational safety briefing – 9.1%.

Preventive work carried out jointly with local authorities and administrations has ensured a reduction in fatal industrial injuries in the first quarter of 2020.

Based on the analysis of supervisory activities for compliance with occupational safety legislation for the first quarter of 2020, and the state of industrial injuries, economic entities, in cooperation with local executive and administrative bodies, should ensure the implementation of the following preventive measures:

- on-site monitoring of compliance with the requirements of Directive No. 1, labour and production discipline, conducting pre-shift (before the start of work, shift) medical examinations, and assessments for the presence of employees in a state of alcohol, narcotic or toxic intoxication, taking into account the requirements of current legislation.

- high-quality departmental and public control over the state of occupational safety at workplaces, with the direct participation of trade unions and public occupational safety inspectors;

- in order to more effectively control employees' compliance with occupational safety requirements, labour and production-technological discipline, ensure the implementation of the issue of introducing (expanding the practice of using) video surveillance systems in subordinate organisations at production, construction and other facilities (extract from the minutes of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus meeting of 23 April 2019 No. 10);

monitoring the implementation of corrective actions in the occupational safety and health management systems (OSH management systems) in organisations, taking into account the analysis of occupational injuries and violations of current labour protection legislation identified during supervisory, control and preventive activities;

- monitoring and timely completion by employees of pre-employment occupational medical examinations and periodic medical examinations in accordance with legislative requirements;

- staffing organisations with qualified occupational safety and health specialists in accordance with the Staffing Norm.

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