The Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, established on December 21, 1995, provides the fundamental framework for health and safety within the country. This is expanded upon by the Health and Safety Act of the Republic of Uzbekistan, enacted on May 6, 1993, which defines national policies, principles, and responsibilities of employers and employees regarding safety and health.

Principles of Uzbekistan's Health and Safety System

The health and safety system in Uzbekistan operates on several key principles. These include the prioritization of worker protection over production outcomes, adherence to universal standards across all workplaces, a preventive approach to identify and mitigate risks, and the cooperation and involvement of government, employers, and workers' representatives for effective management.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers in Uzbekistan have significant responsibilities in ensuring safety and health. These include establishing health and safety systems, conducting regular risk assessments and implementing control measures, providing safe equipment and work processes, providing training and information to all employees, ensuring pre-employment and periodic medical examinations for workers in hazardous occupations, regularly monitoring work conditions and exposure levels, and reporting serious accidents and conducting investigations.

Employee Rights

Employees in Uzbekistan have the right to a safe work environment, the right to refuse work they believe poses an immediate danger to their health or safety, the right to receive adequate information and training on workplace hazards and safe working practices, the right to participate in health and safety decision-making, and the right to receive compensation in case of work-related injuries or illnesses.

Specific Areas of Regulation

Uzbek laws regulate specific hazardous aspects of work. These include chemical safety, fire safety, work at height, construction safety, and radiation safety.

Enforcement and Compliance

The Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of Uzbekistan oversees health and safety regulation and enforcement. Enforcement actions can include workplace inspections, administrative fines or criminal penalties for violators, and work stoppages if immediate risks to workers' health and safety are found.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a critical aspect of any workplace. It involves identifying and assessing hazards, implementing control measures, ensuring safe work practices and procedures, conducting health surveillance, providing training and education, reporting and investigating incidents, and continuously improving OHS performance.

Hazard Identification and Assessment

Employers are required to systematically identify workplace hazards and assess risks to workers. These assessments must consider physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards.

Hierarchy of Controls

Control measures should be prioritized based on a hierarchy, which includes elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Safe Work Practices and Procedures

Safe work practices and procedures encompass equipment maintenance, chemical safety, electrical safety, fire prevention and emergency response, and workplace ergonomics.

Occupational Health Surveillance

Occupational health surveillance involves pre-employment and periodic medical exams for workers in hazardous occupations. Employers must also monitor employees' health for signs of occupational illnesses, especially for exposures to toxins or biological agents.

Worker Training and Education

All workers should receive OHS training upon employment and ongoing refresher training. Training content must cover workplace hazards, safe work practices, emergency procedures, and the use of PPE. Workers must also have access to information on workplace risks and be able to consult with OHS specialists.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

Employers are required to report work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses. In-depth investigations must be conducted to determine the root causes of accidents to prevent future incidents.

Continuous Improvement in OHS Performance

Continuous improvement in OHS performance is emphasized. This commitment is achieved through the development of internal OHS management systems, regular audits and reviews of OHS performance, and active participation of employees and their representatives in driving improvements.

Workplace inspections play a pivotal role in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. They are designed to identify and assess potential hazards, promote compliance with safety standards, deter non-compliance, and monitor workplace conditions.

Governing Bodies

The primary authority overseeing workplace inspections in Uzbekistan is the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, through its State Labor Inspectorate. Other agencies may be involved in specific sectors, such as the Sanitary-Epidemiological Services for inspections involving biological or chemical hazards.

Inspection Criteria

Workplace inspections focus on several key areas. These include compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, hazard identification and control, equipment and machinery safety, handling of chemical and hazardous substances, emergency preparedness, and recordkeeping and documentation.

Inspection Frequency

The frequency of inspections is influenced by factors such as the risk level of the industry, the employer's compliance history, and any complaints or reports of accidents.

Inspection Procedures

Inspection procedures typically involve a notification to the employer, an opening meeting to explain the inspection process, a workplace walk-through, interviews and documentation review, and a closing meeting to discuss preliminary findings.

Follow-Up Actions

After the inspection, the inspectors document their findings in a report. Enforcement actions may be taken, such as issuing improvement notices, imposing fines, ordering work stoppages, or initiating criminal proceedings in cases of severe or repeated violations. Follow-up inspections may also be conducted to verify the correction of deficiencies.

In the event of serious workplace accidents and fatalities, employers in Uzbekistan are legally obligated to inform relevant authorities without delay. These authorities include the State Labor Inspectorate, local government bodies, the trade union representing the workers, and law enforcement agencies in cases of serious injury or death.

Immediate Notification

A detailed written report must be submitted within a specified timeframe. This report typically outlines the circumstances of the accident, the nature and severity of injuries, corrective actions taken, and witness statements.

Investigation Processes

The employer has the primary responsibility to conduct an initial investigation into the accident, identifying root causes and determining preventive measures. State labor inspectors launch independent investigations for serious accidents to determine if regulations were violated and to make recommendations. Investigations may involve police, prosecutors, or specialized technical experts depending on the nature of the accident.

Investigation Objectives

The key aims of workplace accident investigations in Uzbekistan include determining the immediate and underlying factors that contributed to the accident to inform future prevention actions, establishing liability and whether violations of regulations occurred, providing recommendations to the employer or enforcing specific actions to prevent similar incidents, and helping determine the eligibility for workers' compensation claims.

Workers' Compensation

Workers injured or falling ill due to work-related activities are generally entitled to compensation. Types of compensation include medical treatment and rehabilitation costs, temporary disability benefits (partial wage replacement), permanent disability benefits (lump sum or ongoing payments), and survivor benefits in case of fatal accidents. Workers or their families must apply for compensation through the social insurance system in Uzbekistan.