The number of fatalities has decreased by 40% in Kazan

(KZN.RU, November 14, Mikhail Chentsov). The number of fatalities has decreased by 40% for the first 9 months of this year in Kazan, compared to the same period of 2015. Ivan Kuznetsov, the deputy head of the Economic Development of the Kazan Executive Committee, reported on the work of the Coordination Council of Occupational Safety at the Executive Committee today at the Business Monday.

In total 43 accidents at work, including four group ones, were recorded since the beginning of 2016. 20 people were killed in the performance of their duties, and another 28 were injured and maimed. According to I. Kuznetsov, the most terrible accidents happen where basic safety rules are not respected. “Their offense, unfortunately, is systematic. By the way, the lack of guard fences on dangerous objects is the most common security breach”, said the speaker.

According to I. Kuznetsov, the construction industry, where the injury rate is traditionally one of the highest, is under special control of the Coordinating Council. So, in 2015, 20 out of 46 of all deaths occurred in the production of the construction. The members of the working groups of the Coordinating Council examined the 15 construction sites in the period from January to October 2016. Special attention during detours was paid to compliance with safety standards, inspection of sanitary facilities, and the availability of firefighting equipment, safety magazines and many other aspects of occupational safety. “Such raids are carried out for the past three years, and if in the first two years the reaction of construction companies’ heads was of a negative character, now groups of the Coordinating Council are met in entirely different way and meetings become more productive and meaningful”, said the speaker.

In concluding his report, I. Kuznetsov said that 114 different violations were found since the beginning of the year, but today they are all eliminated and each of them have been documented with photo report. “Reducing the number of fatalities by 40% compared to the same period last year was the result of the work of the Coordinating Council for Occupational Safety. Our main goal is the reduction of the number of fatalities to zero. The work will continue”, concluded I. Kuznetsov.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, said that the work being done by the Coordination Council is very important. “The numbers speak for themselves, but, nevertheless, they are still large. Reduction of deaths by 40% per year is a good result of the work, but, as you correctly pointed out, we need to go to zero. Each loss of ability to work not to mention the death is a tragedy for any family that can be and should be avoided. It must be remembered that the occupational safety is a “safety airbag”, which is triggered only when seat belts are fastened”, concluded the Mayor of Kazan.