The Rulebook on preventive measures for safe and healthy work to prevent the occurrence and spread of epidemic of infectious diseases.

On the 03.07.2020, the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Serbia has adopted a new Rulebook on preventive measures for safe and healthy work to prevent the occurrence and spread of an epidemic of infectious diseases, was published in “Official Gazette. RS Gazette ”, no. 94/2020, which enters into force on 11.07.2020.

Article one prescribes that the measures that the employer is obliged to apply in order to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases and eliminate risks for safe and healthy work of employees, as well as persons found in the work environment, when the competent authority declares an epidemic of infectious diseases.

Article two prescribes that the rulebook is applied to all workplaces in the work environment in which work is performed, except for field work and working from home.

Article four prescribes the obligations of the employer and what the plan of application of measures must contain.

The plan of implementation of measures must contain: preventive measures and activities to prevent the outbreak of an infectious disease, the task of implementing and controlling the implementation of preventive measures and activities, as well as measures and activities to act in case of an outbreak of an infectious disease.

What is the employer obliged to provide?

1) Before starting work, the employer is obliged to provide written instructions and 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.

In case of an infectious disease, the duties of the employer are as follows:

1) The area where 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 in which the employee who was infected with other employees resided are reduced to the necessary ones with the prescribed protection measures.

6) All other measures are applied on the recommendation of the epidemiologist.

The obligations of the employee are listed in Article Eight.

The employee is obliged to:

1) Implement all preventive measures of safety and health at work in order to preserve his health, as well as the health of other employees.

2) Purposefully use the prescribed means and equipment for personal protection at work and to handle them carefully, so as not to endanger their safety and health as well as the safety and health of other persons.

3) Additionally takes care of their hygiene by washing hands regularly and correctly.

4) Keep personal clothing separate from means and equipment for personal protection at work and work clothes.

5) Obligatorily inform the employer if they suspect that they, other employees or members of their family, have symptoms of an infectious disease.

6) Before the beginning of work, inspect his / her workplace, including their equipment , 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 a position not to 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.

To find out more measures of the Serbian Government click here.