Investigation and recording of occupational diseases

The government proposed to amend the Law of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic “On Labor Protection and Safety” and the Labor Code. It is proposed at the legislative level to record a mandatory investigation and recording of every industrial accident and every occupational disease.

The Labor Code of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic contains rules on the procedure for investigating and recording only industrial accidents, while the procedure and recording the investigation of occupational diseases is not regulated either at the legislative level or at the level of by-laws.

The legislative initiative of the executive body proposes to eliminate the legal gap and establish that acute and chronic occupational diseases of workers that arose as a result of single or prolonged exposure to high concentrations of chemicals contained in the air of the work area, as well as levels and doses of other unfavorable factors, are subject to investigation and recording. Specialized doctors of treatment and preventive institutions together with specialists from the sanitary and epidemiological service with the participation of representatives of the employer will investigate and keep records of occupational diseases.

The Government proposes to enshrine in the Labor Code of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic the responsibilities of the employer in the event of occupational diseases among employees. Namely, the obligation to organize an investigation and recording, prepare all the necessary materials and documents for conducting an examination of the connection between an employee’s disease and the profession and provide all the necessary information to specialists who will directly conduct the investigation and recording of occupational diseases. An important obligation of the employer, proposed to be enshrined in law, is the development and implementation of measures to prevent occupational diseases among employees.

According to the text of the draft law, the procedure for investigating and recording occupational diseases, as well as the forms of documents necessary for their investigation, will be approved by the Government of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Similar requirements are provided for recording and investigating industrial accidents.

The legislations “On amendments to the Law of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic “On labor protection and safety” and “On amendments and additions to the Labor Code of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic” were supported by deputies at the plenary meeting in the first reading. Work on the legislations will continue in the second reading, taking into account all the comments and suggestions made.