Igor Ciloci, vice director of the State Labor Inspectorate, has told IPN that the increase in the number of accidents at work this year is due to the employers’ attitude to safety and health at work and to the legislative shortcomings that refer to the swift involvement of labor inspectors for controlling and preventing workplace accidents.

Data for January 1 - November 12 show the State Labor Inspectorate was informed about 509 accidents at work, by 103 more than in the corresponding period last year. The 503 accidents involved 543 persons, by 117 more than in the same period last year. Sixty-five employees died, while 75 were seriously hurt. 369 persons remained with temporary incapacity for work.

“It is extremely important to allow the labor inspectors to intervene whenever it is necessary and as thoroughly as necessary so as to see if the employer correctly applies the legislation. The better the employers and employees are informed about safety and health at work, the lower is the risk of having occupational accidents. The State Labor Inspectorate offers free consultancy at the request of all those interested in the most efficient implementation of the labor legislation, safety and health at work,” stated Igor Ciloci.

Most of the workplace accidents this year occurred in the building sector, transport, processing industry, agriculture. There are no separate statistics about the number of work accidents that involved persons hired illegally.

A number of 41 cases of injuring – 19 mortal and 22 very serious ones - are now under examination. So far this year, there were also examined 36 severe work accidents that resulted in serious traumas that can lead to disability or require a long period of recovery.

Under the law, a person holding a responsible post is liable to a fine of 27,500 to 42,500 lei, 100 to 200 hours of community service or at most two years in jail for violating work safety or other rules if the violations cause accident involving persons or other serious consequences. If the violation results in death, the penalty is two to six years behind bars and ban on holding particular posts or performing particular activities for a period of up to three years.