Filenews 7 February 2021 - by Adamos Adamou
For at least six months, targeted inspections of the Department of Labour Inspections (TES) of the Ministry of Labour will be kept for supervision and control of measures taken from time to time to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the workplace. This is the result of the INSPECTION programme of the SEE prepared for this year, which takes into account the situation and what is being done in the workplace as a result of the pandemic.
The emphasis placed on reducing the spread of the pandemic was of course expected, on the basis of the long-term objective of the SEE to ensure safety and health in the workplace.
In particular, the SEE's 2021 inspection programme places particular emphasis, inter alia, on carrying out inspections to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic on construction sites and retail trade, monitoring the implementation of safety and health at work legislation in the construction, mining, processing, hotel and food sectors, plants for the manufacture, treatment and storage of hazardous chemicals which may cause a large-scale accident, in wholesale trade, in nursing activities, in the control of manual handling of loads and in the prevention of musculoskeletal diseases. In addition, in 2021 inspections of safety and health management, the imposition of safety and health conditions will continue in consultation with the competent authorities for the issue of an urban planning permit/building permit/certificate of approval and when examining applications for a certificate of registration of premises, facilities, businesses and workplaces, as well as the control of the safe storage of petroleum products and the protection of workers from heat stress.
'Targeting' the Covid-19
At the same time, the Department of Labour Inspections will also carry out a targeted inspection programme this year, with the aim of protecting workers and ensuring fair competition between businesses. Targeted inspection campaigns are carried out within a set time frame and stakeholders as well as the social partners know in advance – as of now – the specific dates. For these campaigns, audit questionnaires shall be prepared with appropriate explanations and instructions based on the specific objectives of each campaign. The objectives, checkpoints and related explanations for each campaign are also made public through a communication on the Department's website and on social media. For this year the targeted inspections concern the following:
- Inspections under the COVID-19 workplace campaign. Inspections will be carried out from January to June.
- Inspections in storage and wholesale trade. The campaign will take place in February.
- Inspections at chemical manufacturing, processing and storage sites. The campaign will take place in March.
- Inspections in processing premises not inspected in the last 5 years. Inspections will take place in the two months of May - June and November 2021.
- Inspections for the Protection of Workers from Thermal Stress (Works). 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 programme of inspections on safety and health at work was prepared in the context of the implementation of the 1st Strategic Objective of the SEE, which concerns the "Ensuring Safety and Health in the Workplace" and is the main action of the 2nd Activity of this Objective "Inspections, Implementation and Enforcement of Legislation".
According to the SEE, this year's inspection programme took into account, inter alia:
- The exceptional measures taken as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact in particular on certain sectors of economic activity.
- The analysis of accidents at work reported over the last five years, in particular the high frequencies and/or severity of accidents that continue to occur in recent years in specific sectors of economic activity, such as the hotel and food industry, the manufacturing industry, wholesale and retail trade 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 of the implementation of the annual Inspection Programmes in recent years.
- Making the best possible use of the resources available for more effective enforcement of the Legislation as well as improving compliance through inspections using legal or other tools such as issuing Improvement and Prohibition Notices, taking criminal measures, imposing out-of-court fines, and sending letters.
- The need to carry out targeted inspections on the basis of specific criteria to increase the effectiveness of inspections.
- The occasional recommendations of the social partners (employers and trade unions) including the proposal for stricter monitoring of the implementation of legislation on safety and health at work.
- The implementation of the Action Plan of the Cyprus Safety and Health Council to reduce accidents.
Quantitative and qualitative inspection targets
As part of its programming, the Department of Labour Inspections also set annual quantitative and qualitative targets. As regards the quantitative objectives for the activities of each inspector, who deals with safety and health issues and who adapts according to the division of tasks in relation to other activities of the department, it appears that each inspector of the SEE should carry out 228 inspections this year. It is also appropriate for each inspector to identify, in the context of inspections, one or two examples of good practice. Inspections also have specific quality objectives. These include checking employers' compliance with the provisions of the legislation with particular emphasis on:
- Identifying sources of danger and persons likely to cause bodily harm or damage to their health.
- The existence of a Written Risk Assessment.
- The definition of written, preventive and protective measures on the basis of written risk assessments.
- Making written risk assessments available to employees/safety representatives.
- To inform employees and other affected persons of the necessary preventive and protective measures and to provide such oral or written instructions/guidance.
- The implementation of a risk management system with defined procedures for risk control and response.
- the designation of persons responsible for protection and prevention activities (NSIPs) or the purchase of Protection and Prevention Services by authorised persons for the provision of External Protection and Prevention Services (SSPs).
- The control of the health surveillance of employees.
- The election of a Security Representative and/or the establishment and operation of a Security Committee, where applicable.
- Helping micro-enterprises with information sources and other tools (e.g. OiRa - Interactive Risk Assessment Tool).
Safety and Health strategy at work, in 10 axes
On the occasion of the publication of the inspection programme of the Department of Labour Inspection for this year, the department also proceeds to a summary of Cyprus' strategy in the field of Safety and Health at Work. A strategy that, as noted, is in line with the European Union's Strategic Framework for Health and Safety at Work and has been signed by the Minister of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, 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 new European Strategy is prepared by the European Commission. This strategy, which aims to implement the Ministry of Labour's policy of continuously and steadily improving safety and health levels in the workplace, focuses on the following axes:
1. Institutional Framework: Exploitation and optimisation of the institutional framework. This framework is based on the functioning of the Labour Advisory Body and the Cyprus Safety and Health Council.
2. Legislative Framework: Completion of the legislative framework where and when gaps and/or specificities concerning the data of Cyprus are identified. Promote its spread.
3. Labour Inspection System (EES): Implementation of an EES to implement legislation more effectively with a view to protecting workers and ensuring fair competition between undertakings.
4. Supportive Institutions: Providing targeted support and information to Security Officers and Approved Persons providing Protection and Prevention Services (SPS), on safety and health issues at work and improving the functioning of the security committee institution.
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 mentality of Safety and Health: Implementation of multiple actions to promote the prevention of accidents at work and occupational diseases and the development of the safety and health culture.
7. Integration into other policy areas: Integration of safety and health issues into education, employment, development, certification of professional qualifications and sponsorship.
8. Scientific progress and research: Collaboration with Academic Institutions, Research Institutes and Services in Cyprus and abroad for research and studies on safety and health issues.
9. Cooperation with social partners and other bodies: Cooperation with employers' and trade unions, government bodies, local authorities and other bodies regulating professions, market surveillance and environmental protection to provide technocratic assistance with a view to upgrading their capacity to offer education and guidance to their members.
10. Active participation in European Union bodies and international organisations: Active participation in working groups and committees of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, the Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors, the European Agency for Safety and Health, the European Statistical Office dealing with safety and health at work and the United Nations International Labour Organisation.
