Enhanced inspection oversight ordered at construction sites: No job is worth a human life

(Patria) - Following increasingly frequent accidents at construction sites in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a fatality and serious injuries to workers in recent days, the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Adnan Delić, has issued an instruction to the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, as well as to cantonal labour inspectorates, demanding enhanced and targeted inspection oversight at construction sites across the Federation of BiH.

The instruction calls for special attention to be paid to the application of regulations in the field of occupational safety, the use of personal protective equipment and gear, workers' training for safe work, completed medical examinations, the adoption of internal acts on occupational safety, as well as other legal obligations aimed at protecting the life and health of workers.

"The recent accidents at construction sites, in which one worker lost his life and another sustained serious injuries, have once again highlighted the importance of consistent application of regulations in the field of occupational safety. No deadline, project or business interest can be more important than a human life. That is why I have requested from the competent inspection authorities enhanced controls and consistent use of all legally prescribed mechanisms to determine whether the regulations protecting worker safety are being respected," stated Minister Delić.

He added that it is the obligation of every employer to ensure safe working conditions, adequate protective equipment and workers' training for the tasks they perform, and that occupational safety must not be a formality that is checked only after an accident occurs.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy will continue, within its competencies, to insist on the consistent application of regulations and the improvement of occupational safety standards, with the aim of reducing the number of injuries and preventing tragic consequences in the workplace.