Executive Committee Meeting: Vitebsk Region to Strengthen Prevention of Industrial Injuries
Alexander Khristoforov, Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, reported that over 9 months, 887 people died from external causes in the region, which is 25 more compared to the same period last year. In 10 months, 19 people died at work, which is 2 cases less than in January-October last year, and 64 workers received serious injuries (in 2018 - 60). The main causes of industrial injuries remain the same as last year: violation of labor discipline by the victims, occupational safety instructions, failure of managers and specialists to fulfill their occupational safety duties, and personal carelessness. Alcohol abuse is often an aggravating factor.
Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives, critically assessed the results of the work on the prevention of industrial injuries in the region. According to him, local authorities, heads of enterprises and organizations are seriously underperforming in this matter. This is evidenced by statistics. The indicator of deaths at work per 100,000 working people for January-September was 3.5 people, the highest among all regions of the republic. At the same time, positive trends are noted in all other regions. "It's about the attitude towards one's work. We need to establish order, implement control where necessary, pay people their wages on time, and then these issues will resolve themselves," the speaker is convinced.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Oleg Matskevich, demanded a serious re-evaluation of existing approaches to work, an increased focus on the prevention of industrial injuries, and the achievement of impeccable discipline. "We write plans, everyone seems to be doing their job, but people are dying, as a result of which all work becomes ineffective," he stated. He emphasized that local managers and specialists responsible for ensuring labor protection must achieve the correction of all identified violations. At the same time, prevention should be aimed at middle management, among whom shortcomings often occur. "We must force this to be done: immediately eliminate all identified violations," the First Deputy Chairman stressed.