Conference Work quality life quality,

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Conference Work quality life quality, Riga,
20-21 November, 2008 National OSH Strategy in
Latvia
by Renars Lusis, Ministry of Welfare
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National OSH Strategy in Latvia

• Previous strategies and OSH policy
• Main OSH problems in Latvia
• OSH strategy 2008 2013
• Goal and main principles of the OSH policy
• Solutions and main activities
• Results and indicators foreseen
• OSH programme 2008 - 2010
• Challenges and opportunities

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Previous
strategies and OSH policy

• OSH strategy and Action Plan 2001-2006
• Priority joining EU and transposition of the EU
  acquis communitaure
• Minimal or no relation with the EU OSH strategy
  2002 2006
• Labour Protection Law (2002)
• Transposing EU framework directive (89/391/EEC)

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Main OSH
problems in Latvia (1)

• High rate of the fatalities
• Low-compliance with the OSH legislation in
  practice
• Attitude from both sides
• Surveillance and control mechanism (SLI)
• Lack of economic incentives and support
• Poor social dialogue
• Penalty system

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Main OSH
problems in Latvia (2)

• Low level of awareness, knowledge and lack of
  preventative attitude in society regarding OSH
  issues
• 43 of employers consider that there is no risk
  factors in their companies
• Society information level (27 well informed, 45
  - have heard something)
• Instructions still formal (85 done, but only 61
  of employees informed about the risks)
• Lack of information, data, scientific support and
  administrative capacity

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Goal of the OSH
Strategy

• OSH Strategy 2008 2013 (Adopted by CoM on
  15.04.2008.)
• Goal to determine the directions of development
  and specify the measures of the OSH system in
  Latvia in order to ensure successful
  implementation of the OSH legislation into
  practice and reach the objective of ensuring safe
  and harmless working environment for all
  employees.

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Main principles
of the OSH policy

• Existing OSH policy principles have to be
  supplemented with the following
• Simplification of the legislation and adm.
  procedures
• Better implementation of the existing
  legislation
• Providing economic motivation and state support
• Integration of OSH issues at all levels of
  education
• Integration of OSH issues into other policies
• Setting measurable goals and regular monitoring
  of policy
• Availability of OSH information, consultations
  and services
• Promotion of preventative culture.

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Solutions and
main activities (1)
1. Improvement of planning and development of OSH
policy 2. Increasing of the capacity and
efficiency of the SLI 3. Implementation of
preventative culture in the society and
enterprises 4. Improvement of working conditions
with legislation and other initiatives
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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Solutions and
main activities (2)

• Improvement of working conditions with
  legislation and other initiatives
• Decreasing of administrative requirements and
  improvement of OSH legislation
• Introduction of economical motivation and support
  of employers (standards of practice, free R.A.)
• Promotion of the social dialogue at the
  industrial and enterprise level
• Implementation of adequate and effective penalty
  system and application of penalties

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Results and
indicators foreseen (1)

• Reduction of fatality rate by 30
• Inspection
• Additional inspectors
• 50 of dangerous branch companies are inspected
  every year (in 2006 10)
• At least 10 inspection campaigns organized per
  year (in 2007 5 campaigns)

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Results and
indicators foreseen (2)

• Compliance with OSH legislation
• Proper risk assessment done in 55 of all
  companies (current 24) and in 70 dangerous
  branch companies
• 80 of employees informed about their risks
  (current 60)
• Information
• 80 of society is informed about OSH issues
  (including 50 well informed) (in 2006
  respectively 72 and 27)
• 80 of youth is informed about OSH issues
  (including 40 well informed) (in 2006
  respectively 67 and 17.7).

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia OSH Programme
2008 - 2010
Adopted in the CoM 4 November 2008 5 main
tasks 1) Reduction of the accident risk and
better implementation of the OSH legislation 2)
Scientific support, creating National OSH
institute 3) Introduction of the preventive
culture 4) Increse of the competence of
specialists working with OSH 5) Better
protection of employees (new regulations)
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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Positive/negative
Both policy documents (strategy and programme)
are adopted! Number of preventive inspection
campaigns gradually increases (2008 5
campaigns) SLI is released from
uncharacteristic functions (e.g. dangerous
equipment and market surveillance) Two
standards of practice already drafted (office
work, construction) Tender for risk assessment
providers announced and winner known, practical
100 000 workplace assessment (free of charge)
will start beginning of 2009
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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Positive/negative

• Two regulations amended to reduce
  administrative burden (amount of documentation)
• All planned actions within the OSH programme
  2008 - 2010 for improvement of the quality of OSH
  services taken
• New regulations adopted for external OSH service
  providers, including certification criteria for
  OSH experts
• Amendments to the Administrative fine code
  adopted, fines for OSH service providers foreseen
• Amendments to the Administrative fine code
  adopted, more
• effective fines for OSH violations set (more
  specific, minimum)
• Economic crisis reduction of accidents

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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Positive/negative
- Economic crisis - reduction of funding and
staff - actions postponed additional
inspectors, civil servants in the MoW (OSH
division, Tripartite subcouncil) - actions
endangered state funded surveys, delegation
agreement with the Institute
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National OSH Strategy in Latvia Challenges and
opportunities

• Challenges
• Political will, support
• Financial commitment
• Opportunities
• Participation and strong support of the social
  partners
• European Structural Funds
• Good expertise and good practice in other EU
  member states

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