On industrial injuries in January-September 2019

As part of the cooperation on the implementation of state policy in the field of occupational safety and health, the Department of Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Lepel District Executive Committee provides operational data from the Department of State Labour Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus on fatalities (deaths) at work and injuries resulting in severe occupational trauma for January-September 2019 in comparison with the same period in 2018.

According to operational data, in January-September of the current year, 18 workers died (deceased) and 55 people sustained severe injuries in organisations of the Vitebsk region. Of the total number of injured, a link with production has been established for 15 fatalities, which is 2 fewer than in the same period last year, and 53 sustained severe occupational injuries (in January-September 2018 – 50). At the same time, in the current year, the indicator of the number of fatalities at work per 100,000 insured persons under mandatory insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases (Kch) for the region was 3.5 (nationwide – 2.7).

For reference. As of October 4, 2019, the investigation (special investigation) of 9 fatalities and 17 cases of severe occupational injuries had not been completed. Of these, according to preliminary information, accidents leading to the death of 3 workers and severe injury of 2 people will be classified as non-occupational.

An increase in fatal occupational injuries in January-September of the current year was noted in organisations subordinate to (part of the system of) the Ministry of Forestry – 2 fatalities (none in the same period of 2018), as well as the Ministry of Industry and the "Bellegprom" concern, where one worker died in each (none in the same period of 2018). In addition, an increase in the number of fatally injured workers was noted in organisations without departmental subordination – from 1 to 4 fatalities.

An increase in the number of severely injured workers was noted in organisations subordinate to the Ministry of Forestry, where 5 workers sustained severe injuries (one in January-September 2018), the Ministry of Energy – 3 (one in January-September 2018), the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Transport – 2 (none in January-September 2018), as well as in organisations of private ownership – 10 (nine in January-September 2018).

Analysis of the causes of industrial accidents from completed special investigations (investigations)

Causes of accidents	January-September
Causes of accidents	2018	2019
Solely due to employer's fault	20.0	21.3
Mixed responsibility of employer and victim	22.2	12.8
Solely due to victim's fault	33.3	29.8
In the absence of fault of employer and victim	24.5	36.1

In January-September of the current year, 1 person died and 2 victims who sustained severe injuries at work in the organisations of the region were intoxicated at the time of injury (in January-September 2018, the figures were 2 and 3, respectively).

Taking the above into account, we propose to analyse the state of working conditions and labour protection within the organisation, developing measures to prevent workplace injuries, eliminate causes contributing to occupational injuries, ensure unconditional compliance with labour protection duties by both officials and employees, and maintain production and technological, executive, and labour discipline.