Labor conditions at enterprises of Irkutsk region and implementation of the risk-based approach

Abstract

One of the serious economic problems of modern production is losses caused by work-related injuries and occupational diseases, which amount to 4% of GDP. One of the ways to reduce significant economic losses is to change the paradigm from responding to an accident and occupational diseases to preventing negative factors of production processes. Russia is undergoing a large-scale reform of control and supervisory activities and transition to the risk-based approach is under way. According to the risk-based approach, attention of the regulatory authorities should be focused on potentially dangerous objects related to risks 1, 2. The purpose of this article is to analyze innovations in labor protection within the ʺregulatory guillotineʺ in assessing working conditions and managing occupational risks using the example of economic facilities in Irkutsk region and determining economic costs depending on the working conditions. The methods of statistical research, assessment of professional risks and economic costs were used. It was found that every second employee has performed his labor duties under harmful and (or) dangerous working conditions. The most difficult working conditions are typical of extraction, processing and agricultural enterprises, the intensity of labor is maximum during storage and transportation. When predicting professional risks for the main factors of the production process by economic activities, it was found that the maximum risk is observed in the construction, transportation and mining industries. The main reasons for high risks were identified. In Irkutsk region, the actual expenses for compensation and personal protective equipment amounted to 11,235 rubles per one person. Mining enterprises have the highest expenses (95,156.5 thousand rubles); the amount of expenses in the construction industry is 47440.6 thousand rubles; in transportation and storage organizations, it is 359,602.5 thousand rubles. The minimum costs are in companies engaged in agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing and fish farming. Economic costs are significant and require measures to improve working conditions and ensure the effective modernization of the OSH management system. Currently, transition to the risk-based approach and creation of a system for managing industrial risks are the main tasks of managers at different levels.