Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRAGUE480
2005-04-04 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH REPUBLIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

Tags:  ELAB EZ EUN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000480 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EUR/ERA
STATE PASS DOL FOR BRUMFIELD, GRAY AND FRODYMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
INFORMATION

REF: STATE 32323

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000480

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EUR/ERA
STATE PASS DOL FOR BRUMFIELD, GRAY AND FRODYMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EZ EUN
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
INFORMATION

REF: STATE 32323


1. The following information relates to the questions e-
mailed to post in conjunction with reftel.

CONTACT NAME IN COUNTRY: Mr. Zdenek Cais, Specialist,
Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of
Labor and Social Affairs. PHONE: 420-221-922-460. E-MAIL:
zdenek.cais@mpsv.cz


2. CURRENT LABOR ISSUES AND PRIORITIES: Czech regulations
on safety and health are contained in the Labor Code, law
no. 65/1965, in particular its Articles 142, 141a, 128, 168,
167, 192 166, 74, 205d and 233, and its later amendments.
Czech laws should now be in accord with EU requirements.


3. The government recognizes a need for improvement in
occupational health and safety. Its National Action Program
for Health and Safety at Work for 2004-2006, based on the
European New Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work
for 2002-2006, states as priorities:

- identify effective economic and other tools to make
employers better implement occupational safety legislation
and measures,

- introduce legal regulations regarding accident insurance
in the field of occupational safety,

- increase awareness of employers about accident prevention
and motivate them to improve safety measures,

- improve cooperation between all agencies responsible for
supervision in the field of occupational safety and health
at work, including the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of
Health, Czech Office of Occupational Safety, the State
Health Care Supervisory Office and others so as to create a
united approach to enforcement of the legislation.


4. ENFORCEMENT AND PRIORITIES: Every employer, by law, must
provide maximum protection to its workers. The law on
Protection of Public Health, no. 258/2000, fully harmonizes
Czech legislation with EU norms. It sets forth categories
of work that are dangerous or risky as well as the duty of
employers to protect their workers best, e.g. regularly
measuring levels of dangerous substances and informing the
local authorities about the nature of production.


5. Employers are required by law to pay for accident
insurance. All legally employed workers are compensated in
case of an occupational injury or illness. Additionally,
every legal employee and his employer contribute to health

and social insurance that covers medical bills and
prescriptions.


6. CONFERENCE TOPICS: GLOBAL MANAGEMENT OF CHEMICALS: Law
no. 258/2000 on Public Health Protection regulates handling
of dangerous substances including chemicals. Companies have
a duty to report to the local State Health Care Supervisory
Office all facts relating to production, handling, imports
etc. of chemicals, and all safety measures introduced.


7. The Czech Republic has not yet adopted the Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of
Chemicals. Like all EU countries, it must do so by 2008.


8. IMMIGRANT WORKERS SAFETY AND HEALTH: As of December 31,
2003, 250,000 immigrants (2.3% of the population) lived in
the Czech Republic, of whom 162,761 (68%) were working.
Legally employed immigrant workers enjoy the same protection
as Czech nationals.


9. CONTRACTOR SAFETY: Temporary workers enjoy the same
protection as permanent employees. Employers are
responsible for having safety measures in place as well as
providing any special training the job requires. By law,
the user is responsible for safety of contract workers, that
is, employees of an agency or company contracted to do a job
for another entity. When more than one employer is on the
work site they all have responsibility for training workers
and must inform each other in writing about risks involved
at work (Labor Code Article 38b para 1, Article 233 para 2a,
Article 132 para 4).


10. BEST PRACTICES IN SAFETY AND HEALTH AT THE CORPORATE
LEVEL: According to the National Action Program some
companies do not appreciate the importance of occupational
safety and health protection, preferring their immediate
commercial interests. The government in its Action Program
intends to change this by introducing some incentives to
make companies improve their performance in this regard.
The Council for Protection of Health at Work prepares data
and suggestions regarding occupational safety, identifies
problems and controls implementation of measures for
improvement of protections for health and safety in the
workplace.


11. A national Focal Point for Occupational Safety and
Health at Work whose website (www.osha.mpsv.cz) is
maintained by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in
cooperation with the European Agency for Safety and Health
at Work in Bilbao, Spain, which provides information for
anyone interested or involved in the issue and agencies
responsible for it. The Safer Labor Inspectors Committee
(SLIC) campaigns for improvement in occupational health and
safety throughout the EU.


12. VOLUNTARY PROTECTION PROGRAMS: In 1996, the Czech
Occupational Safety Office and the Ministry of Labor and
Social Affairs initiated a "Safe Company" program. It
encourages medium and large companies to undergo a voluntary
safety at work audit. If they fulfill criteria and pass the
labor safety inspectors' control, they are granted the title
of Safe Company valid for 2 years. To date, 59 companies
have gained the title, some of them repeatedly, and they are
learning that this "sign of quality" improves their public
image and gives them an advantage in competing for
contracts.

CABANISS