Duško Vuković, vice president of the Union of independent syndicates of Serbia (SSSS), points out that ′′ independents ′′ have been leading activities and campaigns since 2010., warning state authorities and employers that security and health are at low level.
– This is witnessed by a large number of tragic accidents, an average of about 50 employees per year at work, and 800 are injured. In addition, the number of professional diseases that are recorded annually can be counted on the fingers of one hand. All of this is a consequence of great legal insecurity and social irresponsibility, very pronounced work ′′ on black ′′ and almost no investment in labor safety. Starting from the state, through inspections where there is a very small number of labor inspectors, to the company, where there is a large influence of interesting groups led by agencies and other companies that sometimes organize those jobs for a table and more companies, points out Vuković.
Our negotiator estimates that all this affects safety and health at work formally. ′′ Various risks are being danced, and employees are not trained, neither theoretically nor practically for safe work and are not prepared for possible risks “, explains Vuković.
It adds that the Day of Safety and Health at work this year, as well as last, we celebrate in pandemic conditions, but also that safety at work in Serbia cannot be a topic to which we will give attention only on April 28.
– Among several thousand deaths from kovid-19 in Serbia, there are numerous workers infected at work. The health of employees is literally their lives, and Serbia had a weak record of the deceased from professional illnesses caused in the workplace before the epidemic. Cancer related to work and employee exposure to nearly 50 different carcinogenic substances is caused by tens of thousands of deaths. Even illnesses caused by physical hard work are not recorded, and diseases caused by psychosocial reasons such as stress, violence, harassment and job harassment are not recorded, treated with funny and frivolous.
He also believes that labor safety unions and unions play a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of employees.
– In every enterprise, institution and institution where we have formed safety and health committees, or where we are allowed, the number of injuries and diseases is reduced to a minimum. Because of all the above, we believe that no new legislation is worth us, if it does not apply and if what workers and unions fought for many decades ago now returns in time for the fight for basic worker s’ rights. We insist on real changes, starting from drastic increase in inspectors, changing the bad practice of the court, to introducing union controls for work in companies. Without that, no, even the ′′ most European ′′ paper will help us, said Vuković about the Independence portal.
The powerlessness of the controller Prasčević and Krstić from the Faculty of Labor Protection also believe that unions and the professional public need to focus on concrete solutions that will greatly improve practice.
Serbia has registered nearly 400 thousand business entities controlled by only 247 inspectors for work. This means that one labor inspector ′′ covers ′′ more than 1.550 companies. It is obvious that the number of inspectors compared to the number of economic entities is insufficient, so they have an insignificant influence on the situation in this area. In this sense, it is necessary to pay more attention to the organization of work protection jobs. It is necessary for the number of advisors, or employees for safety and health at work, the employer adjusts the type of activity, the technological process, dangers, harmfulness and estimated risks, the number of locally separate units, the number of employees and the organization of work…
The recommendation is, depending on the type of activity, that the employer who hires from 251 to 500 employees, concludes a contract to work with at least two advisors, or employees for safety and health at work, and employer from 500 to 1000 employees of at least three advisors. Those who employ several thousand employees should further conclude contract with at least one more advisor on every 1000 employees. Also, a revision of the workplace risk assessment act and in the work environment would contribute to a better organization of work safety and health jobs.
Professors Prasčević and Krstić say that considering the highest number of injuries to work with fatal results and serious injuries are happening in construction, the valid 1997. Rulebook on construction work needs to be revised. In fact, two new ones would leak from this rule: one only for working on height, and the other depending on the type of construction activity. According to this, it is necessary to innovate and shine of outdated, and very important rules concerning certain industries, professors point out.
They also point out that this whole area must be observed more because measures, activities and procedures are aimed at ensuring the safety and health of the population and the law on fire protection, the law on environmental protection, the law on health care, the law on infectious diseases the disease…
All our speakers believe that without constant education and training is not worth any normal change. In order to improve and develop professional competencies in the field of safety and health, professional improvement and ′′ lifelong learning ′′ of people who deal with safety and health jobs should be encouraged.
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