From September 14 to 18, the Week of Zero Accidents is taking place across the Mogilev region. The initiative aims to improve approaches to ensuring safe working conditions and prevent industrial accidents.

The week is being held within the framework of the international Vision Zero concept, or Zero Accident Strategy. Its foundation is the principle of accident prevention at work: with a systematic approach, the vast majority of injuries can be eliminated.

Chief Labor Inspector of the Mogilev Regional Trade Union Association Sergey Sergeenko noted that industrial injuries should not be regarded as inevitable. According to him, incidents may be linked to late identification of risks, a formal attitude toward briefings, or ignoring signs of worker fatigue.

"Zero accidents is not an utopian goal. It is a systematic system of measures where compliance with safety requirements becomes an integral part of each enterprise's production culture," emphasized Sergey Sergeenko.

Within the framework of the thematic week, an unscheduled analysis of occupational safety will be conducted, giving special attention to high-risk production areas. The work involves direct interaction with employees working in highly dangerous production environments.

According to Sergey Sergeenko, one thematic week cannot solve all problems in the field of occupational safety, however it creates a preventive impulse whose effect may last for a long time.

Trade unions have tools for public control over compliance with labor legislation. Labor inspectors and public safety inspectors monitor the procedure for issuing and using personal protective equipment, the quality of conducting briefings and training on occupational safety, compliance with working conditions established by regulatory requirements, as well as observance of work and rest schedules for workers.

"The trade union is an effective connecting link between workers and enterprise management. Information about potential risks coming through trade union channels is considered by employers in an operational manner. This allows eliminating violations at an early stage, preventing them from developing into accidents," concluded Sergey Sergeenko.

During the Zero Injury Week, trade union activists of the region will conduct monitoring of occupational safety conditions in organizations where industrial injury cases were previously recorded. Also planned are thematic seminars and round tables with the participation of occupational safety specialists and representatives of supervisory bodies.

In addition, hotlines will operate for receiving reports of violations. Employees will be able to receive individual consultations on the implementation of labor rights in the field of safety.

"Zero injury rate is a basic principle of organizing the production process," summed up Sergei Sergeyenko. "Trade unions of Mogilev region consistently uphold this principle in dialogue with employers."

The Zero Injury Week will end on September 18, but systematic work on the prevention of industrial injuries will continue on a daily basis.