Starting from September 1, 2023, new changes in the labour protection legislation have come into force. The composition of the main changes is presented in the text below.
UNIFIED STANDARDS FOR THE GIVING OF INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIVE GEAR
The Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation has developed an Order according to which it is required to provide employees with individual protective gear (IPG) and wash-off agents according to unified standards.
The need for IPG and wash-off agents will be determined based on professions and positions, taking into account the list and the level of exposure of occupational hazards established:
based on the results of a special assessment of working conditions;
based on the number of employees working in such industries;
based on other factors determined by the employer.
The obligation to apply unified standards developed by the authorites of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation comes into force on January 1, 2025. At the same time, from September 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, there is a transition period during which the employer has the right to be guided by industry standards corresponding to their type of activity.
NEW GROUNDS FOR UNSCHEDULED LABOUR PROTECTION TRAINING
According to the amendments, an unscheduled examination of knowledge on labour protection in connection with the entry into force of statutory enactments containing state regulatory requirements for labour protection should be carried out only if there are provisions in such statutory enactments on its necessity.
In other words, an unscheduled examination of knowledge on labour protection will be mandatory if the requirement for this is fixed in the statutory enactment developed by state authorities.
In this connection, companies are recommended to monitor new statutory enactments and conduct unscheduled employee training in a timely manner.
NEW RULES FOR PRE-TRIP AND POST-TRIP MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Starting from September of this month, the remote format of pre- and post-trip medical examinations (medical examinations) has been in effect.
It is necessary to conduct remote medical examinations with the help of medical devices that provide automated transmission of information about the health status of employees and remote monitoring of their health.
In addition, the employer needs to install a set of equipment that will allow the driver to participate in the examination:
a computer with a display, speakers and headphones, as well as a video camera and microphone to ensure communication with a medical worker;
a thermometer with non-contact temperature measurement function;
a tonometer for measuring blood pressure and pulse, etc.
Prior to the medical examination, medical workers and employees undergoing such an examination must be identified in the "Unified Identification and Authentication System" (UIAS).
According to the results of the medical examination, a medical report is drawn up, which is signed with an enhanced qualified electronic signature of the doctor. After that, the report is transmitted to the employer by information systems.
Remote medical examinations are prohibited for drivers who:
are engaged in the transportation of dangerous goods;
are engaged in the transportation of passengers;
carry out trips on routes with a length of more than 300 kilometers.
NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR LABOUR PROTECTION TRAINING
Companies that independently train employees on labour protection issues must register in the employer's personal account for labour protection (PALP) through the "Unified Identification and Authentication System" (EIAU) and submit information about such employees to the appropriate Register on the website of the Ministry of Labour of the Russian Federation.
To register in the PALP, it is necessary to:
Go through authorization on the websiteof the Ministry of Labor, which redirects the user to the EIAU system for registration.
Obtain administrator access to the organization in the context of which the PALP will work.
Give access to company employees.
When submitting information to the Registry, it is necessary to specify:
full name, personal insurance policy number (Russian acronym - SNILS), profession and position of the trained employee;
name and taxpayer ID number (Russian acronym – INN) of the organization that sent the employee for training;
name of the training program;
date and result of the knowledge verification;
number of the knowledge verification protocol.
Please be reminded that in order to organize internal training, the company has to provide:
material and technical base, namely, suitable places for training employees or training facilities
equipment and technical means of training;
educational and methodological base, namely, programs and educational materials;
at least two teaching employees in the staff of the organization or specialists engaged under civil law contracts who have been trained according to the relevant programs in a third-party, licensed training centre;
knowledge verification commission, whose members have been trained in a third-party training centre for the relevant courses.
Acsour recommends taking into account the new rules when working with companies in the field of labour protection.