Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 144 Georgian Scientists Vol. 6 Issue 4, 2024 https://doi.org/10.52340/gs.2024.06.04.14 State strategy of labor safety and ways of establishing a risk assessment system in the construction sector Mariam Darakhvelidze PhD student, Department of Labor Safety and Emergency Management, Georgian Technical University; m.darakhvelidze2109@gmail.com Abstract Construction is one of the most dangerous branches of industry, which is associated with high physical load. Employees in this sector perform risky jobs, therefore it is necessary to have a complete system of risk assessment in the country. In the paper is discussed the present practice in the country, the steps taken in this direction and the existing needs. Keywords: risk, hazard, risk assessment system, legislation, adopted technical regulations. 1. Introduction Construction is one of the most dangerous branches of industry, which is associated with high physical load and It is included in the five most dangerous professions in Georgia (builder, miner, electrician, welder and fireman). The construction sector is one of the sectors with the most frequent practices of informal employment and violations of fundamental labor rights. However, it mainly involves unstable, short-term, often informal and low-paid jobs and is characterized by gross violations of labor laws, which may also be related to insufficient safety regulations and/or existing enforcement mechanisms. Construction workers may be at high risk of health problems. For example, falling from a height, exposure to asbestos, physical trauma, hand and arm vibration syndrome, cement burns and etc. According to the estimates of the International Labor Organization (ILO), 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases are recorded in the world every year. It is estimated by the ILO that the construction industry has a disproportionately high rate of accidents and traumatism compared to other branches of industry. Analyzing the percentage of injured people, it is clear that the construction sector is characterized by high risk factors. Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 145 2. The main part Labor safety and health protection obligations in Georgia are regulated by various legislative acts. Until 2006, labor safety and health issues were supervised by the State Labor Inspectorate in Georgia. [1] The abolition of the supervisory service resulted in the breakdown of labor safety standards and a sharp increase in industrial incidents. The lack of labor safety culture has become one of the serious challenges in the country. It was necessary for the state to take such steps that would contribute to the establishment of a labor safety system. In 2015, the Labor Conditions Inspection Department was established in the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Protection of Georgia. During this period, the department's authority was limited to voluntary inspections and recommendations. During the mentioned period, work was started regarding the introduction of changes in the existing legislative acts [2]. In 2018, the Law of Georgia "On Occupational Safety" was adopted, which became the organic law of Georgia on February 19, 2019. In 2020 was adopted the law of Georgia “On Labor Inspection”[3] and from 2021, the labor conditions Inspection Department was canceled and Labour Inspection office was created.[4] Every year, along with the legislative changes, the number of objects inspected by the Labour Inspection office increased, including in the construction sector. After the implementation of the Organic Law of Georgia "On Occupational Safety", during 2019, the department carried out 1264 inspections, of which 298 were in the construction sector. [5] According to the 2020-2021 activity report of the labor conditions inspection department, On the basis of the organic law of Georgia “On Occupational safety”, primary and follow up inspections were carried out on 1,298 objects, of which 374 were in the construction sector.[6] In 2022, in the construction sector, 232 objects were inspected on a scheduled basis, and 155 objects were inspected on an unscheduled basis.[7] As for 2023, 776 inspections were carried out in this sector.[8] On January 30, 2020 the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia issued the order N01-15/N “On approval of the rule of risk assessment in the workplace”.[9] According to the order: Purpose of the "Rule of risk assessment in the workplace" is to determine the minimum requirements and procedures for occupational risk assessment in the workplace and help employers to take preventive measures for the safety and health of employees." According to the resolution N80 of February 6, 2020 of the Government of Georgia "On approval of the methods of determining the priority sectors of economic activity and the rule of risk assessment", the construction sector belongs to a particularly high-risk sector, therefore construction sites are required to update the risk assessment document within 10 calendar days. On October 31, 2018, the Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories of Georgia, Labor, Health and Social Protection issued Order N01-25/N "On Approval of the Scope, Implementation Rules and Conditions of the Accredited Labor Safety Specialist Program".[10] In accordance with Georgian legislation and established practice, hazards are identified and risk assessment is carried out at the site by an accredited labor safety specialist. From 2018 to September 2021, the inspections carried out by the Labor Inspection Department and later by the Labor Inspection office and the reality in the Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 146 construction sector has shown that despite having accredited specialists on the site and approving the risk assessment rule, the number of industrial accidents is still quite high. One of the reasons for this was incorrectly and incompletely identified hazards and assessed risk, as well as incorrectly planned control measures and lack of control over the implementation of said measures. Over the years, numerous accidents caused by misjudged hazards have made it necessary to take additional steps. An occupational safety specialist is a person who is responsible for identifying each hazard, assessing the risk, planning control measures and providing information to the employer. The life of each employee and the creation of a safe working environment depend on these components. A highly qualified occupational safety specialist means another big step towards the goal. Based on this reality, the country began to search for ways to solve additional problems and on September 13, 2021 the Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories of Georgia Labor, Health and Social Protection issued Order N01-81/N "On Approval of the Scope, Implementation Rules and Conditions of the Accredited Labor Safety Specialist Program” on making changes to the Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories of Georgia, Labor, Health and Social Protection issued Order N01-25/N of October 13, 2018”. This order aims to raise the knowledge of occupational safety specialists and increase the number of qualified personnel in the country. The accredited program was divided into several directions, which include the program in the following directions: For low and medium risk objects, a special and complete program. This gives the occupational safety specialist the opportunity to choose the direction in which he intends to develop further. Also within this change, the length of time required for teaching has increased.[11] On October 27, 2017, the Government of Georgia adopted Resolution N477 of the Government of Georgia "On approval of the technical regulation on safety requirements for work at height". [12] This document defines the basic requirements and general principles of preventive measures during the performance of works at height in those works where there is a danger of falling from a height of 2 meters or more. The technical regulations include requirements regarding the following issues: Installation and operation of guardrails, installation and operation of scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, portable scaffolding, scaffold load capacity and inspection, safety nets, personal protective equipment against falling from a height, warning barriers, portable ladders and necessary training on the construction site. Resolution N361 of the Government of Georgia was adopted by the Government of Georgia on May 27, 2014 "On approval of the technical regulation on construction safety" which regulates such issues as: Organization of the construction site, operation of technical equipment and tools, operation of construction machines and mechanisms, loading and unloading works, earthworks, drilling works, Arrangement of foundations, concrete and reinforced concrete works, installation works, insulation works, Cladding works, electrical installation works, underground works and dismantling of buildings.[13 ] 3. Conclusion The issue of establishing an effective risk assessment system in the construction sector is still relevant. Since the establishment of the Department of Inspection of Labor Conditions, many steps Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 147 have been taken by the state towards the establishment of the aforementioned system. An example of this is to increase the mandate of the Labor Inspection Office, presence of active control in the country and many legislative changes. However, despite these steps, based on the current reality, we still do not have a perfect risk assessment system in Georgia. The relevance of the mentioned issue is also emphasized by the situation and practice in the country over the years. The 2022 report of the Labor Inspection Service provides the relative frequencies of violations from the instructions issued during inspections, where the issue of risk assessment occupies the largest place. In the construction sector, according to the data of 2022, 387 objects were inspected by the Labour Inspection office and protocols of 387 administrative offenses and relevant references were made. Out of the instructions issued by the labour Inspection office, 370 objects lacked the document of hazard identification and risk assessment. The basis for issuing a reference by the service is as follows: the hazard identification and risk assessment documents were not presented, or the document presented 10% 10% 9% 8% 7% 5%5%5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2%2%2%2%2%1%1% Failure to use collective protective equipment Failure to assess risk Failure to provide trainings/instructions Failure to inspect technical equipment Failure to equip personnel with individual protective equipment Failure to document industrial accidents Failure to control alcohol and drug intoxication Absense of primary medical treatment Failure to measure working environment factors Failure to designate an occupational safety specialist Failure to install railings Use of a makeshift ladder Failure to provide employees with accident insurance Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 148 by the object did not comply with the requirements defined by the legislation of Georgia and also the hazards that actually existed were not fully assessed for the object. The existence of a risk assessment system is important for all countries. Accordingly, there are different practices and approaches to this issue. As a result of the analysis of the information found in the research process and the existing practices in Georgia, it is necessary to find ways (Implementation of legislative changes), which leads to the establishment of a perfect risk assessment system. References: 1. Organic Law of Georgia "On Occupational Safety" (19.02.2019) 2. Summary Report of the Labor Conditions Inspection Department (2015-2017). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/editor/upload/20230425042928-LCID%20Report%20_2015%20- %202017.pdf 3. Report of the Labour Conditions Inspection Department (2018). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/report/2018.pdf 4. Law of Georgia “On Labour Inspection” (29.09.2020) 5. Report of the Labour Conditions Inspection Department (2019). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/editor/upload/20230425042732-LCID-Report-2019-GEO.pdf 6. Report of the Labour Inspection Office (2021). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/report/2021.pdf 7. Report of the Labour Conditions Inspection Department (2020). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/report/2020.pdf 8. Report of the Labour Inspection Office (2022). https://shorturl.at/9rdI6 9. Report of the Labour Inspection Office (2023). https://lio.moh.gov.ge/editor/upload/20240606033109-FINAL%20REPORT_2023_GEO.pdf 10. Order of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia N01-15/N “On approval of the rule of risk assessment in the workplace”. (12.09.2018) 11. Order of the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia N01-25/N "On Approval of the Scope, Implementation Rules and Conditions of the Accredited Labor Safety Specialist Program". 12. Resolution N477 of the Government of Georgia "On approval of the technical regulation on safety requirements for work at height"(27.10.2017) 13. Resolution N361 of the Government of Georgia "On approval of the technical regulation on construction safety" (27.05.2014) Georgian Scientists/ . 6 N 3, 2024 149 , , , m.darakhvelidze2109@gmail.com . , , , , . , . 5 . : , , , , .