Latvia has a comprehensive legal framework that ensures employers provide safe and healthy working conditions for their staff. The main laws that regulate health and safety in Latvia are the Labour Protection Law and the Labour Law.

Employer Responsibilities

Under the Labour Protection Law, employers have several responsibilities regarding the health and safety of their employees. These include conducting regular risk assessments, ensuring safe working conditions, providing health and safety training, arranging for mandatory health checks, and reporting workplace accidents and serious incidents to the relevant authorities.

Employee Rights

The Labour Protection Law also defines several rights for Latvian employees to ensure their health and safety at work. These include the right to refuse dangerous work, the right to receive information about hazards in the workplace, and the right to raise concerns and provide suggestions regarding health and safety issues.

Health and Safety Institutions in Latvia

The Ministry of Welfare is responsible for developing and overseeing health and safety policy in Latvia. The State Labour Inspectorate is the primary enforcement agency for health and safety regulations in Latvia. Latvian Trade Unions play a key role in representing employees' views on health and safety issues.

Specific Hazards and Regulations

Latvian health and safety law covers a broad range of specific hazards and issues. These include chemical safety, construction safety, noise and vibration, and psychosocial risks. Employers are responsible for assessing and managing these risks.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Employers who fail to comply with Latvian health and safety laws can face a variety of penalties, including fines, improvement notices, and prosecution for serious offences.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards in Latvia are shaped by a combination of European Union (EU) directives and national legislation. The EU Framework Directive, Council Directive 89/391/EEC, serves as the foundation for OHS law across the EU. It outlines fundamental employer responsibilities like risk assessment, prevention measures, and worker training. There are also sector-specific EU directives that tackle specific hazards such as noise, chemicals, vibrations, and biological agents. Additionally, Latvian National Regulations issued by the Cabinet of Ministers provide further details on OHS implementation in Latvia.

Key OHS Practices in Latvia

Risk Assessment

Employers in Latvia are required by the Labour Protection Law to perform comprehensive risk assessments for potential hazards across all work activities. This includes identifying physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks. Based on these assessments, employers are expected to create preventive action plans outlining control measures, safety equipment, and training to reduce risks.

Occupational Health Surveillance

Employers are also required to arrange mandatory health examinations for workers exposed to harmful working conditions. These checks focus on identifying early signs of occupational diseases or health problems related to work activities.

Training and Information

Safety training is another key OHS practice in Latvia. Employers are required to provide safety instruction for all workers, tailored to their specific workplace risks. Information on specific job hazards, safe work procedures, control measures, and safety signage must be prominently available to workers.

Emergency Procedures

Employers are expected to develop emergency plans for accidents, fires, evacuations, and first-aid response. Employees should receive regular drills and training on these emergency procedures to ensure an organized response in crises.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Where hazards cannot be fully eliminated, employers are required to provide appropriate PPE to workers free of charge, and ensure its enforced use.

Workplace inspections play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment in Latvia. They serve to monitor compliance with the Labour Protection Law, deter violations, and identify and address potential risks.

The State Labour Inspectorate

The State Labour Inspectorate (Valsts darba inspekcija – VDI) is the main authority responsible for conducting these inspections. VDI inspectors have the power to enter workplaces, examine documents, question employees and employers, and gather evidence of potential violations.

Workplace Inspection Procedures

The inspection process begins with planning, where VDI develops inspection plans based on factors such as previous violation records, high-risk sectors, and received complaints. Employers are usually notified of inspections in advance, except in cases where immediate action is necessary. The on-site inspection involves a document review, walkthrough and observations, and interviews. After the inspection, a formal report outlining findings and potential violations is prepared.

Inspection Criteria

Inspections cover a wide range of issues in occupational health and safety. Key areas of focus include compliance with OHS laws and regulations, risk assessments and control measures, training and instruction, accident and incident reporting, and health surveillance.

Inspection Frequency

The frequency of workplace inspections in Latvia varies depending on the risk profile of the workplace and the company's compliance history. Workplaces with a higher risk of harm, such as construction and manufacturing, are subject to more frequent inspections. Similarly, businesses with a poor compliance record may be targeted for increased inspections.

Follow-up Actions

If breaches of OHS standards are found, inspectors issue improvement notices ordering employers to rectify the violation within a specified timeframe. VDI can also impose administrative fines for non-compliance. In cases of serious or repeated violations, employers may face criminal prosecution.

Workplace accidents are unfortunate events that can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. Employers have a legal obligation to report these incidents to the relevant authorities. The State Labor Inspectorate (VDI) is responsible for serious accidents or those resulting in fatalities, while the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) handles claims related to workplace injury or illness compensation.

Reporting Deadlines

Serious accidents or fatalities must be reported to VDI immediately. Other accidents require a detailed report sent to both VDI and VSAA within three working days.

Accident Investigation Procedures

Investigations are crucial to identify the root causes of workplace accidents, which can help implement preventative measures for the future. Employers are responsible for conducting internal accident investigations, forming a committee that includes employee OSH representatives where applicable. The State Labour Inspectorate investigates serious accidents or those where there are disputes or criminal liability suspicions.

Accident Investigation Steps

The investigation process includes:

1. Scene Preservation: Securing the accident site to prevent further harm and preserve evidence.
2. Information Gathering: Collecting witness statements, photographs, equipment maintenance records, relevant documents.
3. Root Cause Analysis: Identifying direct and underlying causes of the accident, as well as any failures in OSH management systems.
4. Recommendations: Developing corrective and preventative actions to minimize the recurrence of similar accidents.

Compensation for Workplace Injuries and Illness

Latvian law mandates the "Law on Compulsory Social Insurance in respect of Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases." Employers must pay into this insurance scheme providing compensation to employees sustaining work-related injuries or illnesses. Benefits include medical treatment and rehabilitation costs, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, and survivor's benefits (in case of fatalities). Employees file claims with the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA), which determines eligibility and administers the compensation system.