On occupational injuries

 

02/27/2019 According to operational data from the Vitebsk Regional Department of the State Labor Inspectorate, as of 02/25/2019, 4 fatal work-related accidents occurred in organizations of the Vitebsk region as a result of exposure of workers to hazardous production factors.

In two cases, workers died while performing logging operations – felling trees in a logging area. The deceased were employees of the State Forestry Institutions of the Vitebsk Region subordinate to the Ministry of Forestry. (For the same period in 2018, no fatal accidents were registered).

For reference:

For the period of 2018, 1 fatal accident (due to the fault of the victim himself) and 2 cases resulting in severe occupational injuries (in one of the cases, the fault of officials was established) were also registered in the organizations of the forestry institutions of the Vitebsk region.

Fatal accidents in 2019 in the organizations of the forestry institutions of the Vitebsk region occurred under the following circumstances:

- 07.02.2019 a fatal accident occurred with a logger of the GLLH "Polotsk Forestry" while performing logging work in quarter 28 of the Yurovichskoye forestry. The employee received a fatal injury as a result of the fall of a previously felled pine tree, which was hanging on the crown of the tree being felled by him.

- 15.02.2019 a fatal accident occurred with a forester of the GLLH "Orshansky Forestry". During logging operations in quarter 18 of the Bolbasovskoye forestry of the GLLH "Orshansky Forestry", the forester entered the danger zone of tree felling and received a fatal injury as a result of a felled tree falling on him.

In

Currently, special investigations are being conducted into accidents. Violations, both by the victims themselves and by officials of the organization, are not excluded in relation to these cases. The causes and persons who committed violations of the requirements of current legislation are being established.

An analysis of the materials from completed special investigations of serious accidents that occurred in 2018 in the organizations of the Vitebsk region indicates that the causes of these accidents are violations related to the disregard of elementary requirements during logging operations, as well as violations of safety requirements during the operation of vehicles used in logging operations.

Judging by the circumstances of the accidents that have already occurred in 2019, the aforementioned violations related specifically to the safe conduct of logging operations continue to occur.

In order to prevent and further avoid workplace injuries during logging operations and during the operation and maintenance of woodworking equipment, the Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate of the Department of State Labor Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus deems it appropriate to recommend to republican government bodies, other state organizations,

to the Government of the Republic of Belarus, local executive and administrative bodies to require the heads of subordinate (located in the supervised territory) organizations:

1. To ensure at workplaces (in organizations) the compliance by both employees and officials with safety requirements during logging operations, which are regulated by the Inter-industry Rules for Occupational Safety in the Forestry, Woodworking Industry and Forestry, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, and the Ministry of Forestry of 30.12.2008 No. 211/39 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), and by local normative legal acts.

- to allow persons not younger than 18 years of age, who have undergone medical examinations in the established manner, training in safe methods and techniques of work, instruction, internship, and knowledge testing on occupational safety issues, to perform logging operations.

- to ensure the development and approval of technological maps for logging operations in accordance with the requirements of the specified rules;

- to ensure that all employees involved in logging operations are familiarized with the approved technological map, with their signature;

- during logging operations, ensure compliance with all safety requirements for preparatory work (preparing the logging area for felling) and safety requirements specified in the technological maps for direct felling, skidding of trees, and timber transportation operations;

- on pedestrian paths and roads crossing the logging area under development, ensure the installation of safety signs and warning notices prohibiting the movement of people and vehicles through the logging area;

- ensure the organization and execution of work on removing hung-up trees in accordance with the safety requirements specified in the Rules.

2. Ensure the safe operation of transport and wood processing equipment in accordance with the requirements of the specified Rules.

- the owner of lifting and transport equipment and the manufacturer of loading and unloading operations shall ensure that lifting machines and load-gripping devices are kept in good working order and are safe to use

operation;

- ensure the proper working condition of automotive and tractor equipment (machinery) used for timber skidding, stump removal, and area clearing;

- allow individuals of the relevant profession and qualification, who have undergone training, instruction, and knowledge testing on labor protection issues in accordance with the Instruction on the Procedure for Training, Internship, Instruction, and Knowledge Testing of Workers on Labor Protection Issues, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated November 28, 2008, No. 175 (as amended and supplemented), to operate woodworking equipment;

- prohibit the operation of woodworking equipment without protective devices that prevent human contact with moving parts and cutting tools during operation; prevent the protrusion of cutting tools or their parts; prevent the ejection of workpieces and waste by the cutting tool; prevent the possibility of moving parts of the machine (carriages, slides, trolleys, frames, tables, supports, etc.) exceeding their set limits;

- ensure woodworking machines with moving working parts,

with protective flip-up and easily removable devices, reliable braking systems ensuring the stopping of these working parts within 6 seconds from the moment their engines are switched off when the guard cover is removed or the "Stop" button is pressed;

- ensure the development of technological documentation for lumber processing on woodworking equipment and labor protection instructions for relevant professions and types of work;

- do not allow to work (remove from work) persons in a state of alcoholic, drug or toxic intoxication, who have not undergone medical examination, training, instruction and verification of knowledge on labor protection in the established manner, who do not use necessary personal protective equipment;

- ensure the high-quality conduct of periodic control over the state of labor protection at workplaces in accordance with the Model Instruction on controlling compliance with labor protection legislation in the organization, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated December 26, 2003 No. 159.

 

Vitebsk Regional Department of the Department of State Labor Inspectorate.

 

Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee