Aptauja ilgs līdz 23. oktobrim.
Labour Protection Requirements in WorkplacesIssued pursuant to I. General Provisions1. These Regulations prescribe the health and safety requirements for workers in workplaces. 2. These Regulations, excluding Paragraph 29, Annexes 3 and 4, shall not apply to workplaces: 2.1. in automotive, river, sea, air and railway vehicles; 2.2. in mineral-extracting industries; 2.3. in fishing vessels; 2.4. in agriculture and forestry undertakings, if the workplaces are not located in the buildings of these undertakings; or 2.5. temporary and mobile workplaces, including on construction sites. 3. These Regulations do not prescribe the requirements for the safety and health protection of workers in workplaces in emergency situations and catastrophes. 4. Employer shall be responsible for compliance with these Regulations. 5. Compliance with these Regulations shall be controlled by the State Labour Inspectorate. II. Requirements for Safety and Health Protection for Workers6. The requirements specified in this Chapter shall be applied, taking into account the specific nature of the workplace, nature of the work, working conditions and working environment risk. 7. Requirements for the strength and stability of buildings in which workplaces are located, shall be determined by the regulatory enactments regulating the field of construction. 8. Electric appliances shall be designed, installed and maintained so as: 8.1. not to present a fire or explosion hazard; 8.2. to protect workers from electrical trauma caused by direct or indirect contact with an electrical appliance; and 8.3 materials and protection devices conform to the voltage, working conditions and competence of the workers who have access to electrical appliances or parts thereof. 9. Emergency routes and exits shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 9.1. emergency routes and exits, as well as doors leading to them, and routes in the territory of the undertaking (hereinafter - traffic route) shall be clear so that a safe area may be reached as quickly as possible; 9.2. emergency routes and exits shall ensure rapid and as safe as possible evacuation of workers from all workplaces in case of danger; 9.3. emergency doors shall open outwards; 9.4. emergency doors shall not be locked or fastened in such a way that they may not be easily opened while workers are present; 9.5. emergency routes and exits shall be marked in accordance with the requirements for the use of safety signs at workplaces (inside); 9.6. the number, location and size of emergency routes and exits shall be determined depending on the number, layout and size of the workplaces, as well as on the maximum potential number of workers; and 9.7. emergency routes and exits where illumination is necessary shall be equipped with emergency lighting of sufficient intensity. 10. Workplaces shall be provided with easily accessible, simple to use and suitable fire-extinguishing installations (if possible, automatic), automatic fire-alarm systems, fire-detectors and fire-fighting devices in adequate quantities, taking into account the dimensions and purposes for use of the building, work equipment, physical and chemical properties of the substances used and the maximum possible number of workers. 11. The equipment, systems and devices referred to in Paragraph 10 of these Regulations shall be regularly inspected and maintained in order, and location places thereof shall be indicated with signs which shall be placed in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding labour protection requirements for the use of safety signs. 12. In planning, organising and maintaining a territory, the following requirements shall be complied with: 12.1. the territory shall be, as much as possible, planted with greenery, and shall have well-organised traffic routes; 12.2. waste shall be collected, sorted and temporarily stored in specially arranged places; and 12.3. warehouses for fine (powder-like) materials shall be located at a distance of least 25 metres from other buildings (if the size of the territory of the undertaking allows this). 13. Requirements regarding ventilation of enclosed workrooms: 13.1. a supply of fresh air shall be ensured, taking into account the nature of the work and the physical load of workers; 13.2. the concentration of those chemical substances or products, which may cause or causes a hazard to the health of workers in the work environment and, when coming into contact with a human body, may cause an injury, occupational disease or other health disorders (hereinafter - chemical substance), shall not exceed the maximum permissible concentration of chemical substances and chemical products in the air of the work environment in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding labour protection requirements, when coming into contact with chemical substances in workplaces; 13.3. air-conditioning or ventilation systems shall be maintained in good order, regularly cleaned and the efficiency of their operation shall be inspected; 13.4. a ventilation control system which detects disturbances in the operation of the ventilation system shall be installed (if such control system is necessary in order to ensure the safety and health protection of workers); 13.5. the operation of mechanical ventilation systems and air conditioning equipment shall not cause draughts, that exceed the permissible air movement rate; 13.6. in installing supply-exhaust ventilation and air heating, air re-circulation of not more than 90% the total air supply volume shall be permitted. Air re-circulation from premises in which work involves chemical substances, chemical products, asbestos, bacteria, viruses, radioactive substances, as well as from premises in which work presenting a fire risk or an explosion risk is performed is prohibited; 13.7. if, by utilising technical means, it is not possible to prevent or reduce the concentration of chemical substances to occupational exposure limit value for chemical substances, local exhaust ventilation shall be installed in the workplaces where chemical substances are discharged in the air in order to prevent chemical substances from entering the respiratory organs of the workers, as well as neighbouring workplaces and the surrounding environment; and 13.8. ventilation system shall be connected with fire-alarm systems or fire-extinguishing equipment, so that, in case of fire, the ventilation is switched off and the fire does not spread to other premises. 14. Production waste and chemical substances or chemical products that may pollute the air of the working environment or atmosphere as a whole and pose a danger to the safety and health of the workers, shall be stored and managed in accordance with the requirements specified in the regulatory enactments regarding the management of hazardous waste. 15. Requirements regarding the microclimate of premises: 15.1. a microclimate (temperature, relative air humidity, air movement rate) of work premises that conforms to the nature of the work and the physical load of workers shall be ensured, depending on the physical load necessary for the performance of the relevant work (Annex 1): 15.1.1. Category I - work is not associated with physical efforts or requires very slight or slight physical efforts; 15.1.2. Category II - work which is associated with medium or great physical efforts; and 15.1.3. Category III - heavy work. 16. Requirements regarding the lighting of premises: 16.1. workplaces shall be ensured with natural lighting and equipped with artificial lighting in such a way that the total lighting is adequate for the safety and health of workers, taking into account Annex 2 to these Regulations; 16.2. lighting devices in workrooms and passages shall be located so as to protect workers from risk of accidents and occupational diseases that are related to insufficient lighting; 16.3. workplaces where harm to the safety and health of the workers may arise as a result of sudden switching off of light, shall be provided with sufficient emergency lighting; and 16.4. lighting devices shall be serviced and cleaned regularly. 17. Windows and skylights shall be designed, installed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 17.1. windows, skylights and glass partitions shall allow for avoidance of excessive effects of sunlight in workplaces, taking into account the specific nature of the work and the workplace; 17.2. workers shall have the possibility of opening, closing, adjusting or fixing windows, skylights and ventilation openings in a safe manner; 17.3. open windows, skylights or ventilation openings shall not pose danger to the workers; and 17.4. windows and skylights shall be designed together with the equipment for their cleaning, or shall be fitted with devices that allow cleaning of them without exposing to risk the workers carrying out such work or who are present in the proximity of the windows. 18. Floors, walls, ceilings and roofs of the premises shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 18.1. the floors of the premises shall be stable; they may not be slippery or have dangerous bumps, holes or slopes that may endanger the safety and health of workers; 18.2. workplaces shall have sufficient thermal insulation, taking into account the nature of the work and the physical load of workers; 18.3. the floors, walls and ceilings in the premises shall be easy to clean or refurbish in conformity with the hygiene requirements; 18.4. transparent or translucent walls (in particular all-glass partitions in work rooms and in proximity to traffic routes) shall be clearly marked and made of safe material or demarcated in such a way as to prevent the workers from running into walls or injuries in case the walls shatter; and 18.5. measures shall be taken in order to prevent the performance of work on or access of workers to roofs that are made of insufficiently durable materials or may otherwise endanger the safety and health of workers, unless such equipment is provided which allows carrying out the work in a safe manner. 19. The stairs existing in work places shall be maintained in working order and shall allow the freedom of movement. They shall not be slippery or have dangerous bumps, holes or slopes that may endanger the safety and health of workers. If necessary, stairs shall be marked with safety signs in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding the labour protection requirements in the use of safety signs. 20. Doors and gates shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 20.1. the location, number and dimensions of doors and gates, and the materials used therein, shall be determined by the specific nature and use of the premises; 20.2. transparent doors shall be labelled at a conspicuous height; 20.3. revolving doors and gates shall be transparent or have translucent elements; 20.4. transparent or translucent parts in doors and gates, which are not made of durable material or may otherwise pose a risk of incurring injuries or traumas, shall be protected against breakage; 20.5. sliding doors shall be fitted with a safety device that prevents them from derailing and falling over; 20.6. doors and gates opening upwards shall be fitted with a mechanism that prevents such doors and gates from falling down; 20.7. doors opening to emergency routes and exits shall be marked by safety signs and can be opened from the inside at any time without assistance; 20.8. doors for pedestrians shall be installed in proximity to the gates intended for vehicles, if it is not possible to ensure the passage of pedestrians through such doors; 20.9. doors for pedestrians shall be clearly marked and unobstructed; 20.10. the operation of mechanical doors and gates shall not endanger workers, the doors and gates shall be fitted with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shut-down devices, which allow them to be opened if the doors and gates do not open automatically due to the failure of the power supply; 20.11. gates intended for vehicles shall be marked with warning colours from the inside; and 20.12. emergency doors may not be sliding doors or revolving doors. 21. Traffic routes and areas in which the life or health of workers may be endangered (hereinafter - danger area) shall be designed, organised and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 21.1. traffic routes shall be located in such a manner as to ensure easy and safe access for pedestrians and vehicles to the routes, as well as not to pose danger to the workers employed in proximity to such traffic routes; 21.2. pedestrian walkways and traffic routes shall conform to the maximum possible number of users; 21.3. if traffic routes are used both by vehicles and pedestrians, pedestrian walkways shall be installed or a safety clearance shall be left for pedestrians, ensuring also safe access to doors or gates, passages for pedestrians, corridors and staircases; 21.4. traffic routes shall be clearly indicated and marked; 21.5. if there are danger areas at workplaces where, due to the specific nature of the work, a risk exists for workers to fall or be injured by falling objects, such places shall be fitted with devices preventing unauthorised entrance of workers into such areas; 21.6. workers who work in danger areas shall be provided with collective or personal protective equipment; and 21.7. danger areas shall be clearly indicated and marked with safety signs in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding the labour protection requirements in the use of safety signs. 22. Workplace escalators and travelators shall function safely and shall be fitted with safety devices, as well as with easily identifiable and accessible emergency shut-down devices. 23. Loading ramps and platforms shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 23.1. they shall comply with the dimensions and loading weight of the freight to be transported; 23.2.they shall have at least one exit point; 23.3. if technically possible and necessary, taking into account the labour protection requirements and the platform length, two exit points shall be created; and 23.4. they shall be fitted so as to protect workers from falling from them. 24. Work premises shall be designed, installed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 24.1. they shall be sufficiently spacious, high and with adequate air space; and 24.2. free and unused work room space at a workplace shall provide workers with sufficient freedom to move in order to perform their work, but if it is not possible due to the specific nature of the workplace, each worker shall be provided with sufficient freedom to move in the immediate proximity of his or her workplace. 25. Rest areas shall be designed, constructed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements (need not be applied to offices and similar workplaces if there are adequate opportunities for rest during interruptions of work): 25.1. they conform with the specific nature of the work and the number of workers, are comfortable and accessible; 25.2. they shall be sufficiently spacious and have a sufficient number of tables and seats with backrests; and 25.3. if due to the specific nature of work frequent and regular breaks are necessary, but rest rooms have not been installed, there shall be other rooms in which employees can stay during breaks. 26. Changing rooms and lockers shall be designed, installed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 26.1. changing rooms shall be installed if wearing of special working clothes is intended in the work process or if such rooms are necessary for reasons of health or politeness; 26.2. changing rooms shall be easily accessible, sufficiently spacious, and equipped with seating and lockers; 26.3. separate changing rooms shall be provided for men and women or, if it is not feasible, separate use of changing rooms shall be ensured for men and women; 26.4. if working conditions are related to the exposure to harmful substances, as well as humidity or dirt, storage of the workers' personal clothing and working clothes in separate lockers shall be provided; 26.5. air exchange or ventilation shall be provided in lockers for storing personal clothing and working clothes, if it is determined by the employer or the trusted representatives of workers; and 26.6. if changing rooms are not installed in accordance with Sub-paragraph 26.1 of these Regulations, each worker shall be provided with a separate (lockable) place for storage of his or her personal clothes and belongings. 27. Showers, washbasins and lavatories shall be designed, installed and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 27.1. shower rooms shall be installed taking into account the nature of the work to be performed or if it has been determined by the employer or the trusted representatives of the workers. If possible, separate shower rooms for men and women shall be installed. If it is not possible, use of shower rooms shall be ensured separately for men and women; 27.2. shower rooms shall be sufficiently spacious so that they can be used in accordance with the hygiene requirements and without hindrance to others; 27.3. showers shall be equipped with a supply of hot and cold running water; 27.4. if showers are not installed in accordance with Sub-paragraph 27.1 of these Regulations, suitable washbasins with a supply of hot and cold running water shall be installed in the proximity of the workrooms and the changing rooms; 27.5. in the cases referred to in Sub-paragraph 27.4 of these Regulations, if necessary, washbasins shall be demarcated or used separately by men and women; 27.6. if shower rooms or washbasins are installed separately from changing rooms, easy passage from one room to another shall be ensured; 27.7. the number of lavatories and washbasins shall be sufficient, taking into account the number of workers. The relevant rooms shall be provided with the necessary personal hygiene products (toilet paper, soap, towels or devices for hand drying); 27.8. lavatories and washbasins shall be installed near workrooms and rest rooms, changing rooms and shower rooms; 27.9. lavatories and shower rooms shall be equipped with ventilation and the operation thereof shall be ensured; and 27.10. separate lavatories for men and women shall be installed or separate use thereof shall be ensured, as well as, if necessary, a separate cabin shall be installed for handicapped persons. 28. On the basis of a working environment risk assessment, an employer shall evaluate the need to install first aid rooms or places and, taking into account the type of operation, the dimension of the undertaking premises, the number of workers in the undertaking, the frequency of accidents and the hazard of the working environment to the safety and health of workers, shall design, install and maintain one or more first aid rooms or places in compliance with the following requirements: 28.1. first aid rooms or places shall be equipped with the minimum medical materials required for the provision of first aid, first aid equipment and devices; 28.2. easy accessibility with stretchers shall be ensured to the first aid rooms or places; 28.3. the first aid rooms or places are clearly marked in accordance with the requirements for the use of safety signs at workplaces; and 28.4. first aid kits shall be available at all workplaces if it is necessary due to the working conditions, and the location thereof shall be indicated with appropriate safety signs. 29. Workplaces outdoors shall be designed, organised and maintained in compliance with the following requirements: 29.1. workplaces, traffic routes and other areas or installations outdoors which are used in the course of work or where workers are present, shall be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles may move in a safe manner; 29.2. the requirements referred to in Paragraphs 21, 22 and 23 of these Regulations shall also apply to traffic routes leading to specific workplaces and to routes used for the regular maintenance and supervision of installations and loading platforms; 29.3. the requirements referred to in Paragraph 20 of these Regulations shall also apply to workplaces outdoors; 29.4. if necessary, workplaces outdoors shall be equipped with artificial lighting, ensuring the level of lighting in accordance with Annex 3 to these Regulations; 29.5. workers shall be protected against unfavourable weather conditions and from falling objects; 29.6. workplaces shall be ensured against slipping and falling of workers but, if it is not possible, workers shall be ensured with appropriate protective devices; 29.7. workers shall have the possibility to rapidly leave workplaces in cases of accident or fire, or in other situations dangerous to health and life, as well as they shall be ensured with rapid assistance; 29.8. workers shall not be exposed to noise that exceeds the permissible noise level which is specified in the regulatory enactments regarding the labour protection requirements for the protection of workers from risk caused by noise, as well as harmful external influences, including gases, steam, dust and other harmful factors of the working environment; 29.9. workers shall be ensured with appropriate living and rest rooms, which may be heated and where workers have the opportunity to rest, taking into account the requirements referred to in Annex 4 to these Regulations, or the opportunity for warming up shall be ensured. These norms shall not apply to extraordinary circumstances, as well as to works related to rectification of the damage caused by natural disasters; and 29.10. workers shall be ensured with drinking water and protection against natural optical radiation (solar radiation). III. Obligations of Employers30. For the safety and health of workers in workplaces, employers shall ensure: 30.1. unobstructed passages for pedestrians and vehicles so that emergency routes and exits may be reached as quickly as possible, as well as unobstructed emergency routes and exits; 30.2. maintenance of work equipment in adequate technical condition, as well as immediately eliminate defects which negatively affect the safety and health of workers; 30.3. cleanliness in workplaces and regular cleaning of workplaces (in particular ventilation equipment), observing hygiene requirements and without posing threat to the safety and health of workers; 30.4. regular inspection and supervision of the operation of safety equipment and devices, which are intended for the reduction or prevention of the effects of work environment factors; 30.5. the observation of the principles of ergonomics, upon reconstructing, modernising and installing workplaces in order to reduce the physical load of workers as much as possible; 30.6. organising of workplaces (especially with respect to doors, stairs, emergency routes and exits, changing rooms, showers, washbasins, lavatories, rest rooms) so that, if necessary, persons with special needs (handicapped persons) may be employed therein; and 30.7. the opportunity for pregnant women or women following childbirth (up to one year) to lie down and rest in appropriate conditions in accordance with the hygiene requirements. The referred to conditions shall be ensured for women who are breastfeeding throughout the breastfeeding period. IV. Closing Provisions31. Cabinet Regulation No. 125 of 19 March 2002, Requirements for Labour Protection in Workplaces (Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2002, No. 47) is repealed. 32. In relation to workplaces which have been created up to the date of the coming into force of these Regulations, the requirements referred to in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 to these Regulations shall have a recommendatory nature. 33. These Regulations shall come into force on 1 January 2010. Informative Reference to European Union DirectiveThese Regulations contain legal norms arising from Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum health and safety requirements for the workplace. Prime Minister, Minister for Welfare U. Augulis
Annex 1 Requirements for the Microclimate of Work Premises Depending on Physical Load
Notes. 1. Category I - the work is not associated with physical efforts or requires very slight or slight physical efforts (for example, all doers of mental work, work with different control panels, work performed while seated, standing or moving, movement of light items (up to 1 kg)). 2. Category II - work which is associated with medium or great physical efforts (for example, permanent lifting and movement of weights (up to 10 kg), welding, metal processing works). 3. Category III - heavy work (for example, permanent lifting and movement of weights (greater than 10 kg)). Minister for Welfare U. Augulis
Annex 2 Levels of Indoor Lighting Depending on the Workplace and Type of Work*
Note. * The level of lighting in a workstation may be higher, but the lighting shall not create the risk of accident, including an increased strain of vision and dazzling. Minister of Welfare U. Augulis
Annex 3 Levels of Outdoor Lighting Depending on the Workplace and Type of Work*
Note. * The level of lighting in a workstation may be higher, but the lighting shall not create the risk of accident, including an increased strain of vision and dazzling. Minister of Welfare U. Augulis
Annex 4 Permissible Period of Time for Work Outdoors in the Cold and the Temperature Adjustment TableI. Permissible Period of Time for Work Outdoors in the Cold
Note.. * When determining the actual air temperature, the influence of personal protective devices (work clothes and shoes) and wind velocity shall be taken into account. II. Temperature Adjustment Table Depending on the Wind Velocity
Minister of Welfare U. Augulis Translation © 2010 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) |
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Title: Darba aizsardzības prasības darba vietās
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