The targeted inspections of the Department of Labor Inspections (TEE) of the Ministry of Labor will last for at least six months, to monitor and control the measures taken from time to time to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the workplace. This emerges from the TEE inspection program prepared for this year, which takes into account the situation and what is happening in the workplace due to the pandemic.
The emphasis on reducing the spread of the pandemic was naturally expected, based on the TEE's long-term goal of ensuring safety and health in the workplace.
Specifically, the TEE 2021 inspection program places particular emphasis on, inter alia, conducting inspections to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on construction sites and retail, to monitor the implementation of occupational safety and health legislation in manufacturing, mining, manufacturing, hotel and food, hazardous chemicals that can cause a large-scale accident, wholesale, nursing, handling and in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Also, in 2021, the inspections of the management of safety and health issues will continue, the imposition of conditions for safety and health issues in consultation with the competent Authorities for the issuance of urban planning permit / building permit / approval certificate and the issuance of registration certificate during the examination of applications. premises, facilities, businesses and workplaces, as well as control of the safe storage of petroleum products and the protection of workers from thermal stress.
They “target” Covid-19
At the same time, the Department of Labor Inspections will conduct a targeted inspection program this year, in order to protect employees and ensure fair competition between companies. Targeted inspection campaigns are carried out in a timely manner and stakeholders as well as the social partners are aware of these dates in advance – already. For these campaigns, control questionnaires are prepared with the corresponding explanations and instructions based on the specific objectives of each campaign. The objectives, checkpoints and relevant explanations for each campaign are also made public through an announcement on the Department's website and on social media. For this year, the targeted inspections concern the following:
– Inspections in the context of the COVID-19 campaign in the workplace. The inspections will take place from January to June.
– Inspections in warehouses and wholesale trade. The campaign will take place in February.
– Inspections in areas of preparation, processing and storage of chemicals. The campaign will take place in March.
– Inspections in processing facilities that have not been inspected in the last 5 years. The inspections will take place in the two months May – June and November 2021.
– Inspections for the Protection of Workers from Thermal Stress (Construction sites). The campaign and inspections will take place in July and August.
– Inspections in hotels and restaurants. The inspections will take place in September 2021.
The general program of inspections in the field of Occupational Safety and Health was prepared in the framework of the implementation of the 1st Strategic Objective of the TEE, which concerns “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work” and is the main action of the 2nd Activity of this Objective “Inspections, Implementation and Enforcement of Legislation “.
According to the TEE, for this year's inspection program, the following were taken into account, among others:
– The emergency measures taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects especially in some areas of economic activity.
– The analysis of occupational accidents reported in the last five years and especially the high frequencies and / or severity of accidents that continue to occur in recent years in specific areas of economic activity, such as the hotel and food industry, the manufacturing industry, the wholesale and retail and construction.
– The results of the monthly and annual inspection activities of the last two years, the views and comments of the inspectors, regarding their experiences from the implementation of the annual Inspection Programs in the last years.
– Making the best use of available resources for more effective enforcement of Legislation as well as improving compliance through inspections using legal or other tools, such as issuing Notices of Improvement and Prohibition, taking criminal action, enforcing out-of-court settlements as well as sending letters.
– The need to conduct targeted inspections based on specific criteria to increase the effectiveness of inspections.
– The occasional suggestions of the social partners (employers and trade unions) including the suggestion for stricter monitoring of the implementation of the legislation on Occupational Safety and Health.
– The implementation of the Action Plan of the Pancyprian Safety and Health Council for the reduction of accidents.
Quantitative and qualitative inspection objectives
As part of its planning, the Department of Labor Inspections also set annual quantitative and qualitative targets. Regarding the quantitative targets for the activities of each inspector, who deals with safety and health issues and which are adjusted according to the division of tasks in relation to other activities of the department, it appears that each TEE inspector should carry out 228 inspections this year. . It is also up to each inspector to identify, in the context of inspections, one or two examples of good practice. Inspections also have specific quality objectives. These include monitoring employers' compliance with the provisions of the legislation with particular emphasis on the following:
– In identifying sources of danger and persons, in whom there is a possibility of causing bodily harm or damage to their health.
– In the existence of a Written Risk Assessment.
– In the determination of written, preventive and protective measures based on written risk assessments.
Making written risk assessments available to employees / safety agents.
– Informing employees and other affected persons about the required preventive and protective measures and providing appropriate oral or written instructions / guidance.
– The implementation of a risk management system with defined procedures for risk control and management.
– The appointment of persons responsible for protection and prevention activities (ESYPP) or the purchase of Protection and Prevention services by authorized persons for the provision of External Protection and Prevention Services (EXYPP).
– In the control for the monitoring of the health of the employees.
– In the election of a Security Representative and / or the establishment and operation of a Security Committee, where applicable.
– Assisting micro-enterprises with information sources and other tools (eg OiRa – Interactive Risk Assessment Tool).
Occupational Safety and Health Strategy, in 10 axes
On the occasion of the publication of the inspection program of the Department of Labor Inspection for this year, the department proceeds to a brief presentation of the strategy of Cyprus in the field of Occupational Safety and Health. A strategy that, as noted, is in line with the Strategic Framework of the European Union for Health and Safety at Work and has been signed by the Minister of Labor, Welfare and Social Security, the Employers' and Trade Unions as well as other stakeholders. It is also stated that following a decision of the Council of Ministers, this strategy for the period 2013-2020 has been extended and remains in force until 31.12.2021 until the European Commission prepares the new European Strategy. This strategy, which aims to implement the policy of the Ministry of Labor for continuous and steady improvement of safety and health levels in the workplace, focuses on the following areas:
1. Institutional Framework: Utilization and optimization of the institutional framework. This framework is based on the operation of the Labor Advisory Board and the Pancyprian Safety and Health Council.
2. Legislative Framework: Completion of the legislative framework where and when gaps or peculiarities are identified that concern the data of Cyprus. Promoting its simplification.
3. Labor Inspection System (BAT): Implementation of the BAT for the most effective implementation of legislation in order to protect employees and ensure fair competition between companies.
4. Supporting Institutions: Providing targeted support and information to the Security Officers and the Authorized Persons Providing Protection and Prevention Services (EXYPP), in matters of safety and health at Work and improving the operation of the institution of the Security Committees.
5. Employee Health Surveillance System: Introduction of new legislation and implementation of an action plan for the recording, monitoring and prevention of occupational diseases.
6. Prevention and safety and health mentality: Implementation of multiple actions to promote the prevention of accidents at work and occupational diseases and the development of safety and health mentality.
7. Integration into other policy areas: Integrate health and safety issues into education, employment, development, professional certification and sponsorship.
8. Scientific progress and research: Cooperation with Academic Institutions, Research Institutes and Services in Cyprus and abroad for the purpose of research and elaboration of studies on safety and health.
9. Cooperation with social partners and other bodies: Cooperation with employers' and trade unions, state bodies, local authorities and other bodies regulating the professions, market surveillance and environmental protection to provide technocratic assistance in order to upgrade capacity to offer training and guidance to their members.
10. Active participation in European Union bodies and international organizations: Active participation in Working Groups and Committees of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, the Committee of Senior Labor Inspectors, the European Agency for Safety and Health, the European Statistical Office dealing with occupational safety and health and the United Nations International Labor Organization.
