Industrial accidents - these are events as a result of which the insured individual received health damage that occurred at the workplace on the territory of the enterprise or outside it (in established cases). The consequence of such incidents is usually temporary or permanent disability and even death. An accident outside production is considered a similar incident, not related to the performance of labor duties.
Causes of Injury at Work
Employees of any industry are at one degree or another at risk of personal injury. It does not depend on whether the employee sits in a cozy office at the table or works in a dangerous and harmful production. An extraordinary situation can occur anywhere, and not every employer is prepared for this. According to the investigation of occupational accidents, the following causes of accidents were identified:
- technical component - faulty equipment or potentially dangerous parts of machines (moving elements, electricity, increased or decreased temperature of materials);
- working conditions - a mess in the workplace, its non-ergonomics, noise, ventilation and air temperature disturbances;
- staff actions - lack of work experience, lack of information on the specifics of production and other factors, age, state of health;
- emergency situations.
It is these reasons that most often provoke accidents. This, of course, is far from a complete list, but the main part of those situations that usually lead to injuries.
Severity classification
The injuries received during the performance of labor duties are divided into different groups. They are formed on the basis of identical reasons, the nature of the damage and the number of affected persons. One of the main indicators is the gradation of accidents according to the severity of damage:
- lungs - injuries were received that slightly and temporarily affect the general condition and ability to work;
- severe - significant damage requiring a long recovery, disability;
- fatal.
The determination of the category of an industrial accident is carried out with the help of doctors. For this, form No. 315 / y is used. It is issued by the medical institution where the victim first applied for help, at the first request of the enterprise.
Group accidents are also distinguished. This is an industrial injury received by two or more employees as a result of one accident. There are also “severe” accidents of a group of persons, when one person received serious injuries or died.
What is related to workplace injuries?
Not every adverse event that leads to impaired health can be attributed specifically to work-related injuries. A significant role in determining the place and time of the incident. Industrial accidents are adverse events that have occurred:
- on the work – home section, if the distance is covered by working transport;
- on the territory of the enterprise during the working day, regardless of whether the employee is at his workplace or resting;
- during periods of technical maintenance of equipment, as well as the implementation of preparatory work, even if the working day is over;
- during personal hygiene events carried out on the territory of the employer;
- when executing orders using personal or official vehicles;
- during the elimination of accidents, natural disasters at the property of the enterprise;
- on the way to and from the destination of the trip according to the route.
The persons participating in the activities of the enterprise are not only those who have concluded an employment contract, but also everyone involved in the production. These are student interns or retraining, prisoners, and patients with a mental disorder whose work is involved. In general, anyone who carries out work duties, regardless of purpose (work, training, personal initiative, correctional labor).
Workplace accident investigation
Any incident that occurs as a result of the observance of labor standards and which entails a violation of the state of health must be announced and investigated. This procedure is mandatory for every employer. Investigation of industrial accidents allows you to establish the causes of the accident, as well as receive the victim monetary compensation for damage. The process is carried out on the basis of Regulation No. 73 of 24. 10. 02 and Art. 227–231 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation.
All events are subject to investigation, which entailed injuries of any type (including those received from another person) that arose as a result of external influences, which led to permanent or temporary disability, death, or the need to transfer to another job.
Actions of the employer in case of industrial injuries
An accident is a serious contingency requiring immediate action. The employer or his legal representative must:
- arrange first aid and transportation of the victim (if necessary) to the hospital;
- take emergency measures to eliminate an accident or other emergency that could lead to injuries to other employees;
- to ensure the safety of the situation at the time of the incident, if this does not threaten the health of other persons, or to fix the situation (photographing, filming);
- inform the authorities referred to in Art. 228 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and other regulatory acts or the Federal Law on what happened;
- in case of severe damage or death, notify the relatives of the victim;
- take all necessary measures to organize and conduct an investigation.
Workers, in turn, are obliged to timely inform about emergency and emergency situations at work, their health status and signs of occupational disease.
Establishment of a commission to investigate occupational injuries
The procedure for investigating accidents requires the immediate establishment of a commission whose composition is determined depending on the severity of the incident. The total number of participants is at least 3 people and forms an odd number. Among them should not be present a person who is responsible for maintaining safety and labor protection at the accident site. Each of the victims or his agent is entitled to be a member of the commission.
The procedure for investigating accidents (including group) with "mild" health consequences involves the creation of a commission, which necessarily includes:
- the head of the enterprise or his deputy (representative);
- union members of labor protection workers;
- labor protection specialist.
In the event of injury to natural persons, union representatives are replaced by persons on the part of the victim, and a labor protection engineer can be hired on a contractual basis.
If damage to health is assessed as severe or caused death, a commission is created with the involvement of:
- state labor inspectors;
- executive authorities of the subject of the Russian Federation in which the accident occurred;
- persons of the insurer;
- union members.
If in the first case the commission is headed by the head, then in the second - the labor inspector. Objects under the control of Rostekhnadzor are subject to their decisions.
Investigation Procedure and Timeline
After the formation, the commission proceeds with immediate actions, which include inspecting the scene of the incident, interviewing eyewitnesses, and familiarizing themselves with regulatory acts characterizing the condition of the facility and equipment. During the investigation, contact is made with the trade union organization, which provides information on the percentage of employee guilt in what happened. Based on the data received, the commission establishes the circumstances and causes of the perpetrators of this and qualifies the incident as an industrial or non-industrial injury.
Receiving “minor” injuries requires the commission to complete the investigation within 3 days from the date of the incident. "Severe" cases require 15 days. If the employee’s incapacity for work was not immediately revealed, the process lasts for a month from the day the victim submitted the application.
Mandatory registration of industrial accidents, which is maintained in accordance with the developed form in the incident logbook. A copy of the investigation report is kept by the employer for 45 years. When establishing the causes of group and severe injuries, documents are sent to certain authorities.
First aid in case of accidents
Each company should have its own instructions for the provision of primary emergency care to victims of accidents. Employees must be self-help and self-help. In the event of an emergency, it is necessary to appropriately evaluate what is happening, contact a qualified specialist, if any, at the enterprise, and call an ambulance. If possible, the victim should be provided with safety and his condition (pulse, breathing pattern, skin color, consciousness, etc.) should be reported, which should be reported to doctors.
Investigation and recording of accidents should be carried out under appropriate supervision. At stake is the safety of workers. The employer’s desire to evade responsibility should not be encouraged.