Overview of the job safety demands in Latvia

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Principal national laws and regulation on safety in the workplace 1995 -Law on Compulsory social

insurance in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases

2001 - National Labour Law 2002 -Law on Occupational safety    Link -www.vdi.gov.lv

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Flexibility and Safety in Labour Relations ??

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To achieve the goals set in the reviewed Lisbon strategy and to facilitate creation of more and better working places, policies are necessary that embrace equally the principles of the elasticity of the labour market, principles of the labour organization and legal relations, and the security of employment and social security.

Flexicurity nowadays is becoming the most prominent quality of the society that is able to change and benefit from the global environment at the same time preserving its inner integrity and quality of life. The model of flexicurity seeks to combine the social justice with high economic performance. In this context there are not much more new politic activities performed, rather the focus is put on the mutuality of the social and employment policies, helping the employee /individual to feel sufficiently secure and at the same time viewing the globalization and labour market change as a source of new opportunities. The concept of flexicurity embraces less complicated procedure of employee firing, professional mobility, sufficient social security measures, thus easing the functioning of both social partners.

Flexicurity is more than just two-dimensional issue, flexibility and security. It should be viewed in the context of the active policy of labour market, especially in the issues about the accessibility of jobs, job seeking and occupational training. Taking into account that nowadays new strategic challenges have emerged, like, globalization and the pressure of competition, transit to the knowledge-based economy, ageing of the society, new models of family, the process of European integration, the flexicurity should be granted a special role.

Sectors covered by regulation

1995 -ConstructionLaw on Compulsory social insurance in

respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases

2001 –Mines National Labour Law 2002 - Major hazard installationsLaw on Occupational safety

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National legislation specific for occupational hazards

2001 - Air pollutionNational Labour Law 2002- NoiseLaw on Occupational safety 2001 - VibrationNational Labour Law 2001 - Lonising radiationNational Labour Law 2001 -ChemicalsNational Labour Law 2002 - Carcinogenic

substances and agents Law on Occupational safety

2002 - AsbestosLaw on Occupational safety 2002 - Benzene and

product of benzeneLaw on Occupational safety 2001 - LeadNational Labour Law 2001 - MachineryNational Labour Law 2002 - Manual liftingLaw on Occupational safety

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Employer responsibilitiesRegulation / Topic

Law on Compulsory social insurance in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases

Establishment of policies and procedures to implement the preventive and protective measures

National Labour LawMonitoring and inspection

of the workplace, processes, machinery, tools equipment and other material elements of work

Law on Occupational safety

Provision of information to workers and their representatives concerning occupational hazards

National Labour Law- Education and training of

workers- Taking of appropriate

remedial action after any accident

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Workers right and responsibilities

Regulation / Topic

Law on Occupational safety

Being kept informed on workplace hazards

National Labour LawIncurring no personal cost

for the implementation of OSH measures including training and the provisions of personal protective equipment

National Labour LawTaking reasonable care of

their personal safety and that of others in the workplace

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Safety demands in construction –rules and regulations. More detailed information in Latvian

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Pārskats par darba drošības prasībām Latvijā, galvenokārt saistībā ar būvniecībuDarba aizsardzības prasības veicot būvdarbus Latvijā pamatojas uz šādiem normatīvajiem aktiem: „Darba aizsardzības likums”, Ministru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 323, Ministru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 660. Ministru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 92. 

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Latvijā uzņēmumu vadībai ļauj izveidot organizatorisko struktūru darba aizsardzībā. Tas nozīmē, ka tiek sadalīti pienākumi un atbildība darba aizsardzībā. Uzņēmumam un tajā strādājošajiem tas ir nozīmīgi, jo tādā darbības jomā, kā celtniecība ir salīdzinoši vairāk darba vides riski un to līmenis augstāks kā daudzās citās darbības sfērās. Celtniecības objektos ļoti būtiski, lai darba vides uzraudzība notiktu regulāri visā darba procesa laikā. Darbu vadītāji būvdarbos ikdienā var uzraudzīt, lai tiek ievēroti darba aizsardzības un drošības pasākumi, sadarboties ar apakšuzņēmējiem vai ģenerāluzņēmējiem aktuālu darba aizsardzības jautājumu risināšanai.

Pamatstruktūras:

The mainly structure of safety demands un LV

enterprises10

Higiēnas prasības būvlaukumos/ Darba aizsardzības instruktāža/ Sastatnes, drošības jostas, aizsargnožogojumi/ darba aizsardzības koordinators/ LR MK 92 un  darba aizsardzības plāns/ Nepilngadīgie būvniecībā/ Nelaimes gadījumu profilakse/ Obligātās veselības pārbaudes/ Elektrodrošība/ Ugunsdrošība/ Rīcība ārkārtas situācijās/ * Bīstamās iekārtas/ C167 – Darba drošība un veselības aizsardzība celtniecībā

Pieņemšanas datums: 20.06.1988Šī konvencija attiecas tikai uz celtniecībā strādājošiem darbiniekiem. Tajā iekļautas prasības par celšanas ierīcēm, celšanas mehānismiem, transporta aprīkojumu, zemes pārvietošanas aprīkojumu un materiālu pārvietošanas aprīkojumu celtniecības sektorā.

Situation in Latvian workplaces /construction sector

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The objective of the study was to conduct a survey in the field of occupational health and safety the results of which could be used in rational and effective decision making for elaboration of employment and social policy programmes and for ensuring occupational safety and health programme development.

The traditional work risk factors (physical, chemical, biological) have changed to new risks (psychosocial, ergonomic, microclimatic) in Latvia today. The study included objective assessment of occupational health and safety situation (analysis of work environment risk factors measurement data bases, information on occupational diseases, workplace accidents). Awareness and understanding of employers and employees regarding occupational health and safety requirements was dissatisfactory. The results of the study reveal a low level of workplace accidents compared to other countries within EU, which may be the result of poor registration system in Latvia..

Compliance occupational risk factor mandatory or recom. standards in Latvia

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EMPLOYERS’ SELF-ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE OF THEIRCOMPANIES WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE LABOUR PROTECTIONLAW, PER SECTOR IN LATVIA*13

Number of inspected objects of construction

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Number of inspections 15

Violations of orders16

Number of orders17

Number of penalties18

Amount of penalty (LVL)19

Suspension of object20

The most common violations at construction sites (LV)

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Būvdarbi, kas rada paaugstinātu risku nodarbināto drošībai un veselībai, ir: ?22

darbi, kuros nodarbinātie ir pakļauti šādam riskam: apbēršana ar grunti zemes nogruvumos; applūdināšana ar ūdeni; noslīkšana; nokrišana no 1,5 m un lielāka augstuma; iegrimšana nestabilā gruntī; darbi, kuros nodarbinātie nonāk saskarē ar kaitīgām ķīmiskām

vai bioloģiskām vielām, kas rada risku nodarbināto drošībai un veselībai vai saskaņā ar normatīvajiem aktiem ir

pakļautas speciālai uzraudzībai; darbi, kuros nodarbinātie ir pakļauti apstarošanas riskam ar jonizējošo starojumu un kuru izpildi reglamentē

normatīvie akti par aizsardzību pret radiāciju; darbi augstsprieguma elektrolīniju aizsardzības zonā; pazemē (piemēram, akās, tuneļos) veicamie darbi; darbi, kuros nodarbinātajiem nepieciešama gaisa piegādes

sistēma;

Latvijā noteikumi nosaka darba aizsardzības prasības, veicot būvdarbus/attiecībā uz šādiem darbu veidiem: ?23

pazemes darbi; zemes darbi (arī mākslīgo zemes būvju ierīkošana); ārējo inženiertīklu izbūve; betonēšana; mūrēšana; izolēšana un jumiķu darbi; namdaru un būvgaldnieku darbi; saliekamo (iepriekš izgatavoto) būvkonstrukciju montāža un demontāža; apdares darbi (piemēram, apmešana, flīzēšana, krāsošana, tapsēšana,

stiklinieka darbi); ēku iekšējo sanitārtehnisko tīklu un iekārtu ierīkošana un montāža; būvju nojaukšana, noārdīšana un demontāža; būvremonts; būvju rekonstrukcija, renovācija un restaurācija; būvju uzturēšana, ja tā saistīta ar kādu no šajā punktā minētajiem darbu

veidiem; urbumu veikšana; bagarēšana un zemūdens darbi.

MOST IGNORED SAFETY REGULATIONS in VET / LV/ 1Students don’t use safety

goggles. 2. Students don’t use safety

gloves. 3. Students don’t use dust

respirators. 4. Students don’t wear

appropriate work clothes and shoes.

5. Students throw with plaster and clay mortar.

6. Students don’t give tools directly in the hands, but throw them.

7. Students put scaffoldings and ladders directly on the power supply cables.

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Employees’ Rights, Duties and Responsibility in LV x

Rights, Duties and Responsibility Employees have the rights: to work in just, safe and harmless working conditions; to a just pay for the work; to receive an additional pay for performing additional work; to a rest break if the work lasts for more than 6 hours. Employees have the right to leave their working

place during the break unless stated otherwise in labour contract, collective agreement or job regulations. to leave the work place for a short while. The employee shall report this to the employer immediately. to the annual paid vacation; to the child care leave; to have labour contracts with several employers unless forbidden by the collective agreement or labour

contract; to submit a complaint to a person in the enterprise with a proper authority in the case if their rights or

interests are infringed; to take part in dealing with the complaint, provide explanations and submit opinion; to demand termination of a different attitude, for example, in deciding the job environment, vocational

training or improving the qualification; to give employer a written one month's notice unless a shorter notice is set in the collective agreement or

labour contract, or immediate notice in the case of urgency. During the test period a three day notice can be given;

to join freely the organizations to defend their social, economic and professional rights and interests; to submit written suggestions for the draft of the collective agreement; to check in person or through the representatives of the employees the registration of the working hours

performed by the employer.

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Employee has a duty to: x perform the job carefully during the established working hours; take care to eliminate or reduce actual or potential obstacles to normal work in the

enterprise; exercise care for the employer's property; eliminate or reduce potential or actual losses to the enterprise; report to the employer immediately the obstacles to the work, potential for losses or

actual losses; perform health test if it is provided in the collective agreement or other legislation.

The health test shall be performed also if the employee's illness is suspected threatening the safety and health of themselves or other persons;

keep in secret the information that has come into their notice and that is considered a commercial secret;

take care that the information that is considered a commercial secret is not available to irrelevant persons.

Employee is kept responsible for: employer's losses caused by the employee's unlawful actions; all the employer's losses if they are caused maliciously or by the unlawful

employee's actions not related to the job agreed; losses of the employer caused with bad intentions or because of gross negligence (in

relation to an employee for a job with increased risk).

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Job contract x Job contract is a written agreement between the employee and the employer

about the job to be performed and the wage. This is required by the Labour Law. With the job contract: employee undertakes to perform a certain job and to obey certain procedures and

employer's instructions; employer undertakes to pay the wage settled and provide safe and harmless

working conditions. The following shall necessarily be included in the job contract: employee's name, surname, personal ID, address, the employer's name, (surname),

number of the register and address; date of the commencement of the employment; in the case of temporary job contract, the term of employment; working place; employee's profession accordingly to the Classification of Professions and the

description of the job; amount of the remuneration and the date of payment;

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Job contract -2.part x daily or weekly working hours; length of the annual paid vacation; term of notice for the job contract; whether there is a general agreement and the work order regulations. Job contract is usually prepared in 2 copies. One of them is kept by the employee, the

other - by the employer. Every employee has the right to demand a written contract of job.

There are 2 kinds of job contracts: job contract of indefinite term - there is no set date for the termination of the job contract; temporary job contract - this is made only under special conditions, like, for a seasonal job, for

occasional jobs, when substituting the colleagues and other. The date or the conditions of termination of the job contract have to be stated. Temporary job contract must not exceed 3 years.

Employee with a temporary contract has the same rights as the employees with the indefinite term job contracts.

A test period may be set in the job contract so that the employer can make sure that the employee is able to perform the task assigned. The test period must not exceed 3 months. The time while employee had been ill or had not been able to work because of justifying conditions is excluded from the test period. The test period can not be set for employees under 18 years of age.

Upon mutual agreement, the employee and employer may change in written the conditions of the job contract.

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Secinājumi par darba drošības pasākumu ievērošanu Latvijas celtniecības 2008.-2010.g.

….Lai nodrošinātu nepārtrauktu darba vides uzraudzību un samazinātu darbiniekus apdraudošo riska faktoru ietekmi, ir izveidota un ieviesta sistēma, kurai vēlamies šā gada augusta beigās veikt sertifikāciju.

Tas nozīmē mūsu uzņēmumu apņemšanos strikti ievērot likumdošanas prasības šajā jomā, rūpēties par darba drošības jautājumiem konkrētās darba vietās, regulāri apmācīt personālu un atrast veidus, kā pilnveidot mūsu kopējo darbu šajā jomā.

Mūsu kopējā darba labākais rezultāts būtu iespējami ilgāks laika periods, kurā darbinieki nav guvuši traumas (arī mikrotraumas – nobrāzumus, skrāpējumus, sastiepumus u.c.). Vienlaikus jāuzsver, ka darbinieku pienākumi un arī atbildība par šo mērķu sasniegšanu nav mazāki kā darba devējam. Mums jālieto aizsargķiveres un aizsargbrilles, cimdi un speciāli apavi, un ne tāpēc, ka to vēlas būvdarbu vadītājs vai darba aizsardzības speciāliste, bet lai saglabātu savu veselību, neiegūtu traumu vai arodslimību. Darba devējs ir apstiprinājis darba drošības instrukcijas darba veidiem, kuros ir nozīmīgi riski. Darbinieka pienākums ir šo instrukciju prasību izpilde, lai novērstu traumu iegūšanu negadījumu rezultātā. Ja mēs visi apzināsimies, cik tas ir nozīmīgi un izskaudīsim attieksmi – „ar mani nekas slikts jau nevar notikt” – tā būs puse no veicamā uzdevuma.

Otra nozīmīga lieta ir rūpēties ne tikai par savu drošību, bet brīdināt kolēģi vai darba devēju par apstākļiem, kas rada paaugstinātu risku (nenorobežota tranšeja, lifta šahta, kāpnes bez margām u.c.). Ja šīs rūpes un uzmanība būs abpusēja gan no darba devēja, gan darbiniekiem, mēs varēsim lepoties par mūsu kopējo rezultātu – vēl viena diena, nedēļa vai gads bez traumām.

KVS vadītājsHelmuts Banders, SIA”A.A. & Būvkompānijas”

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