On July 26, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. In the Vitebsk region, the responsibility of managers for employee fatalities and injuries will be tightened. This was announced today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee by its Chairman, Alexander Kosinets, during the consideration of compliance with the requirements of Directive No. 1 "On Measures to Ensure Public Safety and Discipline" in terms of labor legislation, labor protection, and additional measures to ensure life safety in hazardous industries of the national economy, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. According to the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, some work was done in the first half of the year, the level of workplace fatalities decreased by more than half compared to January-June 2011, and severe injuries by 35%. "However, no matter what measures are taken, the fact that 7 people died in six months and 37 received severe injuries indicates that too little has been done. Yes, last year, 16 people died and 51 were injured during the same period. But let's look at the causes of accidents last year and this year, as they are the same: gross violation of labor protection rules and requirements, disregard for personal protective equipment, and appearing at work while intoxicated. The result is orphaned children and single-parent families. Meanwhile, ultimately, the manager is responsible for this," emphasized Alexander Kosinets. In his opinion, it is at the local level that managerial staff, starting from the team leader and foreman, are not working seriously enough. "What do they not see, in what condition do employees come to work, do they not know about the absence of special clothing and personal protective equipment? They see all this, but they do not take any decisive measures to rectify the situation. This carelessness, negligence, and disorder leads to the loss of the most valuable thing – human lives," stated the governor. Addressing the ways out of the current situation, Alexander Kosinets emphasized the need to increase the role of trade unions in preventive work. "At the moment, the potential of this organization in this matter is not being utilized," he believes.