Occupational Safety in Croatia Neglected – Catastrophic Consequences

The protection of workers in the workplace in Croatia is neglected, and the consequences are significant material costs and human suffering, as demonstrated by the recent tragedy of firefighters on Kornati, it was stated today at the Croatian Congress on Occupational Safety and Fire Protection, organized for the fourth time by the Association for the Promotion of Protection of People in Work and Living Environment.

"The seriousness with which occupational safety is taken in our country is shown by the proposal of the Government’s ‘Fast Track’ program to abolish the obligation of ‘risk assessment’ for companies," noted the president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) Ana Knežević. The president of SSSH, which is a patron of the congress along with the Ministry of Economy, warned that the disaster on Kornati would not have occurred or would not have had such proportions if the obligation of "risk assessment" had been respected, i.e., assessing which jobs and workplaces are dangerous, which workers may be harmed, and what must be done in this regard. "The risk assessment states that a firefighter cannot go to the field with an empty pump, yet the firefighters went to Kornati with gasoline, without water, instead of the other way around," warned Knežević.

In Croatia, between 20,000 and 25,000 workers are injured at work each year, of which 1,000 remain permanently unable to work. Every year, between 20 and 50 workers die, most of whom are in construction and forestry. "The costs of remedying the consequences of the lack of occupational safety are far greater than the costs of ensuring safety," asserted Knežević. The president of the National Council for Occupational Safety, the highest tripartite body in this area, and assistant minister of economy, labor, and entrepreneurship Igor Lučić reminded that the Government accepted an action plan on August 29 proposing the establishment of an Institute for Health and Safety at Work, with more than 40 experts, doubling the number of inspectors, and strengthening the Occupational Safety Department in the Ministry.

This year, the Congress also presented the European Initiative for Safe Workplaces, which is primarily aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, where workers are most at risk. The message of the initiative – "Health and safety concern everyone. They are good for you and your business," will be promoted this year in Croatia through targeted literature such as the "Guide to Risk Assessment at Work," and from next year through the website of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Croatian.