Rule Book on Preventive Measures for Safe and Healthy Work to Prevent the Occurrence and Spread of an Epidemic of Infectious Diseases

On July 3, 2020 Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs issued Rule book on preventive measures for safe and healthy work to prevent the occurrence and spread of an epidemic of infectious diseases which prescribes preventive measures that employer is obliged to apply in order to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases and eliminate the risks for safe and healthy work of employees, as well as people found in the work environment, when the authority declares an epidemic of infectious diseases.

This rulebook applies to all jobs in the work environment in which work is performed, except for field work and work from home. Below is a brief summary of the rulebook.

The employer is obliged to adopt a plan, for all jobs for the implementation of measures to prevent the occurrence and spread of an epidemic of infectious diseases, which is an integral part of the Act on risk assessment. The employer is obliged to harmonize this plan with the decisions of the competent authority. Employer is obligated to make a plan within 30 days from the date of entry into force of this Rulebook.

The plan of measures determines measures and activities that increase and improve the safety and health of employees in order to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases, as well as measures and activities taken in case of outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The plan for the implementation of measures must contain:
1) preventive measures and activities to prevent the outbreak of an infectious disease epidemic;
2) responsibility for the implementation and control of the implementation of preventive measures and activities;
3) measures and activities for action in case of an outbreak of an infectious disease.

The employer is obliged to ensure the application of preventive measures at every workplace in the work environment, and in particular the following:

1) before starting work, provide written instructions on measures and procedures for the prevention of the outbreak of an infectious disease, which contain information on the symptoms of an infectious disease;
2) in accordance with the possibilities, if work in shifts is not organized, redistribute working hours by introducing the second or third shift with a smaller number of employees;
3) conducts enhanced hygiene and disinfection of work and auxiliary rooms, which includes regular disinfection of rooms and frequent ventilation of the work space;
4) provide employees with sufficient amounts of soap, towels, running water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers;
5) ensure regular cleaning of all surfaces that are frequently touched in the workplace, especially rooms and equipment such as toilets, door handles, fixed telephones, computer equipment and other work equipment;
6) regulate the manner of keeping records on disinfection of working and auxiliary premises, which it organizes and implements;
7) ensure the development of instructions for safe and healthy work with contractors, suppliers, distributors and external associates;
8) organize and ensure regular removal of waste and garbage (garbage cans lined with plastic bags) from the premises so that they can be emptied without contact with the contents.

The employer is obliged to ensure the application of preventive measures in case when employee is infected, in particular the following:

1) the space in which the infected employee stayed is regularly physically and chemically disinfected and ventilated;
2) the procedures for entering and leaving the employer’s premises are respected, the prescribed means and equipment for personal protection at work and other protection measures during the work process are used;
3) the directions of movement of employees through working and auxiliary premises are precisely defined;
4) strict control of the movement of employees from the organizational unit in which the infected employee worked is organized;
5) contacts of employees from the organizational unit of the employee who was infected with other employees are reduced to the necessary ones with the prescribed protection measures;
6) all other measures are applied on the recommendation of the epidemiologist.

Person responsible for safety and health at work is responsible for checking the application of safety and health measures.

The person responsible for safety and health at work in cooperation with the employer plans, implements and encourages the application of preventive measures, in particular:

1) participates in the development of the plan of implementation of measures;
2) preparation of written instructions and instructions for safe and healthy work in order to protect the health of employees from the epidemic of infectious diseases;
3) control the application of measures determined in the plan of application of measures adopted by the employer;
4) control the use of means and equipment for personal protection at work;
5) cooperates with state bodies and provides the necessary information on the application of preventive measures for safety and health at work.

The employee is obliged to:

1) implements all preventive measures of safety and health at work in order to preserve his health, as well as the health of other employees;
2) to use the prescribed means and equipment for personal protection at work and to handle them carefully, so he does not endanger his safety and health as well as the safety and health of other persons;
3) additionally takes care of his hygiene by washing his hands regularly and correctly;
4) keep personal clothing separate from means and equipment for personal protection at work and work clothes;
5) inform the employer if he suspects the symptoms of a contagious disease in himself, other employees or members of his family;
6) before the beginning of work, inspect his / her workplace, including the means for work he / she uses, as well as means and equipment for personal protection at work, and in case of observed deficiencies, inform the employer or other authorized person;
7) before leaving the workplace, to leave the workplace and means of work in such a position so it does not endanger other employees;
8) in accordance with his knowledge, immediately inform the employer about irregularities, harms, dangers or other phenomena that could endanger his safety and health at work or the safety and health of other employees;
9) cooperates with the employer and the person for safety and health at work, in order to implement additional necessary measures for safety and health at work.

The Rulebook shall enter into force on July 11, 2020.