National occupational safety authority inspection plan for 2020
The Ministry of Finance published the national occupational safety authority inspection plan for 2020 in October this year.
The document sets out occupational safety inspection tasks, which are carried out in accordance with Act CXIII of 1993 on occupational safety.
In 2020, the subject and operation of official inspections are expected to be as follows:
- Subject: Targeted inspection of construction activities
Purpose: The inspection of construction activities is justified by the fact that, according to the authority's records, in the period preceding the issuance of the inspection plan (in 2018), the proportion of serious accidents at work caused by irregular work practices was the highest in the sector. In numerical terms, there were 28 serious and 22 fatal accidents at work.
Audit period: Q2-Q3 2020
- Subject: Targeted investigation on own initiative
The authority conducting the occupational safety inspection shall select the activity, profession, or sector to be inspected based on the economic structure of their area of jurisdiction, the situation regarding occupational accidents, and their inspection experience.
Objective: To examine sources of danger affecting employees.
Audit period: Period specified for each county in 2020
Official inspections can be targeted inspections, spot checks, complex inspections, or pre-announced inspections, depending on their type.
A targeted inspection is an inspection that focuses on a specific inspection objective (e.g., the legality of employment in a particular sector of the national economy from a labor law perspective, or the occupational safety aspects of a particular activity) and does not cover all of the inspection areas listed in Section 81(4) of the Mvt. In terms of methodology, it typically lasts at least three weeks and involves the majority of government officials conducting the inspection.
An action audit is an audit that is aimed at a specific audit objective and does not cover all the audit areas listed in Section 81(4) of the Mvt. In terms of methodology, it typically lasts at least three weeks and most of the government officials conducting the audit participate in the audits.
A complex audit is an audit that includes a comprehensive review of employers' general occupational safety tasks in accordance with the guidelines of the organizational units responsible for the professional management of the Ministry of Finance.
Pre-announced inspection, on-site inspection based on notification one month prior to the inspection.
In the event of a report or complaint in the public interest, an official investigation shall be launched, which shall cover all issues falling within the competence of the authority conducting the occupational safety inspection.
The means of inspection are on-site inspections and document reviews, which in this case cover the examination of occupational safety documentation (e.g., risk assessment, protective equipment provision rules, medical examination rules, etc.).
The minister responsible for employment policy may order extraordinary inspections in addition to those specified in the inspection plan due to changes affecting occupational safety, extraordinary events or circumstances (e.g. an increase in serious accidents at work, changes in legislation, etc.).
Pursuant to Section 82 of the Mvt., the occupational safety authority shall impose an occupational safety fine on employers who fail to comply with the requirements for safe working conditions that do not endanger health, thereby seriously endangering the life, physical integrity, or health of their employees.
The amount of the occupational safety fine can range from HUF 50,000 to HUF 10,000,000.
Source: http://www.ommf.gov.hu/
