Labour Protection Law Chapter I General Provisions

© A/s Exigen Services Latvia, 1998 - 2010. Visas tiesības aizsargātas© VA T&TC 2000 - 2009. Visas tiesības aizsargātasText consolidated by Tulkošanas un terminoloģijas centrs (Translation and TerminologyCentre) with amending laws of:20 November 2003;16 December 2004.If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the date of the amending law appearsin square brackets at the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or clause has beendeleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted section,paragraph or clause.The Saeima has adopted and the Presidenthas proclaimed the following Law:Labour Protection LawChapter IGeneral ProvisionsSection 1. Terms Used in this LawThe following terms are used in this Law:1) labour protection – safety and health of employees at work;2) labour protection measures – legal, economic, social, technical and organisationalpreventive measures the objective of which is to establish a safe and harmless to health workenvironment, as well as prevent accidents at work and occupational diseases;3) labour protection specialist – an employee who has the duty to organise and controllabour protection measures and to perform internal supervision of the work environment, andwho has been trained in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet;4) work equipment – any device (machine, mechanism), apparatus, tool or installationthat is used at work;5) employer – a natural person, a legal person or a partnership with legal capacity,which employs at least one employee;6) work environment – the workplace with its physical, chemical, psychological,biological, physiological and other factors to which an employee is subject in the performanceof his or her work;7) internal supervision of the work environment – the planning, organisation,implementation and management of the activities of an undertaking in such a way as toguarantee a safe and harmless to health work environment;8) work environment risk – the likelihood that harm to the safety or health of anemployee in a work environment may be caused, and level of possible seriousness of suchharm;

9) workplace – a place in which an employee performs his or her work, as well as anyother place within the scope of the undertaking which is accessible to the employee in thecourse of his or her work or where the employee works in accordance with the permission oran order of the employer;10) competent authority – an authority which on the basis of a relevant contract,performs internal supervision of the work environment in an undertaking and whosecompetence in respect of labour protection issues has been evaluated in accordance withprocedures specified by the Cabinet;11) competent specialist – a specialist who is competent to perform internal supervisionof the work environment in an undertaking and whose competence has been evaluated inaccordance with procedures specified by the Cabinet;12) consultations – an exchange of views and the establishment of a dialogue betweenrepresentatives of employees and the employer in order to reach agreement;13) employee – any natural person who is employed by an employer, also State civilservants and persons who are employed during training or traineeships;14) representatives of employees – an employee trade union in whose name acts a tradeunion authority or official authorised by the articles of association of the trade union, andauthorised representatives of employees, the authority of which does not include those rightswhich belong only to employee trade unions;15) serious and direct danger – threats to the life and health of an employee which mayoccur unexpectedly, in a short period of time and which irrevocably impact upon the health ofthe employee;16) preventative measures – actions or measures that are carried out or planned in anundertaking for all stages of work in order to prevent or reduce work environment risk;17) undertaking – an organisational unit in which an employer employs employees; and19) trusted representative – a person elected by employees, who is trained inaccordance with procedures specified by the Cabinet and who represents the interests ofemployees regarding labour protection.[16 December 2004]Section 2. Purpose of this LawThe purpose of this Law is to guarantee and improve safety and health protection ofemployees at work, to determine the obligations, rights and mutual relations between theemployer, and employees and their representatives, as well as State institutions.Section 3. Scope of Application of this LawThis law shall be applicable in all fields of employment if other laws do not specifyotherwise.Section 4. General Principles of Labour Protection(1) An employer shall perform labour protection measures in accordance with thefollowing general principles of labour protection:1) setting up of the work environment in such a way as to avoid work environment risksor to reduce the impact of unavoidable work environment risks;

2) preventing the causes of work environment risks;3) adapting the work to the individual, mainly as regards the design of workplaces, workequipment, as well as in respect of the choice of work and production methods paying specialattention to alleviating monotonous work and work at a predetermined work-rate and toreducing negative effect thereof on health;4) taking into account technical, hygiene and medical developments;5) replacing the dangerous by the safe or the less dangerous;6) developing a co-ordinated and comprehensive system of labour protection measures;7) giving priority to collective labour protection measures in comparison with individuallabour protection measures;8) preventing the impact of work environment risks on the safety and health of thoseemployees for whom in accordance with regulatory enactments special protection has beenspecified;9) performing employee instruction and training in the field of labour protection; and10) co-operating in the field of labour protection with employees and trustedrepresentatives.(2) Self-employed persons have a duty to take care of their safety and health at work, aswell as the safety and health of those persons who are affected or may be affected by theirwork.Chapter IIObligations and Rights of EmployersSection 5. Organising a Labour Protection System(1) In accordance with the general principles of labour protection, an employer has anobligation to organise a labour protection system which includes:1) evaluation of work environment risks;2) internal supervision of the work environment;3) establishment of labour protection organisational structures; and4) consultations with employees in order to involve them in improvement of labourprotection.(2) An employer has an obligation to ensure the functioning of the labour protectionsystem in the undertaking.(3) Expenditures related to labour protection shall be covered by the employer, as well asin accordance with procedures specified by law – from the work accidents special budget.Section 6. Rights of EmployersIn organising labour protection in an undertaking, an employer has the following rights:1) in accordance with law, to apply disciplinary sanctions to employees in respect ofviolations of regulatory enactments and other regulations regarding labour protection, as wellas non-implementation of employer requirements in respect of labour protection issues;

2) to specify additional training related to labour protection issues for employees whohave violated regulatory enactments regarding labour protection or other labour protectionregulations if such violation has not caused a risk to the safety and health of another person,with employees retaining minimum salary during the training period;3) to apply methods and standards in evaluating work environment risks which conformto the technical and economic resources, type of commercial activities and conditions of workof the undertaking;4) to specify the employee guarantees and dispensations in the field of labour protectionin addition to the guarantees and dispensations specified in regulatory enactments;5) to propose the concluding of an agreement with employees regarding the specificationof labour protection measures, the amount of funds necessary and the procedures forutilisation thereof in accordance with requirements of regulatory enactments regarding labourprotection; and6) to contest the warnings, orders or decisions of officials of the State Labour Inspectionin accordance with procedures specified by law.Section 7. Internal Supervision of the Work Environment(1) Employers shall ensure the internal supervision of the work environment.(2) An employer shall document the results of the evaluation of work environment risksand compile a list of persons or occupations (positions) or workplaces, in which:1) health conditions of the employees are affected or may be affected by harmful tohealth work environment factors;2) employees have special conditions at work; and3) the work of employees is related to a possible risk to the health of other persons.(3) The lists shall indicate the labour protection measures specified by the employer andthe protective equipment utilised, as well as the results of the assessment of the effectivenessof the labour protection measures. If the conditions of work are similar, summarisedinformation in the documents referred to shall be sufficient.(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the performance of internalsupervision of a work environment, including work environment risk evaluation.[16 December 2004]Section 8. Evaluation of Work Environment Risks(1) An employer shall evaluate work environment risks in the following order:1) determination of the work environment factors which cause or may cause risks to thesafety and health of employees;2) determination of the employees or other persons whose safety and health is subject towork environment risks;3) evaluation of the amount and nature of the work environment risks; and4) determination of which labour protection measures are necessary in order to preventor reduce the work environment risk.(2) The evaluation of work environment risks in an undertaking shall be performed inaccordance with each of types of activity thereof. If the conditions of work are similar, a work

authorities, as well as cases where the employer in performing the commercial activitiesreferred to may not engage a competent authority. This shall apply also to those employerswho for non-commercial purposes or the needs of their own undertaking perform activities,which conform to the types of commercial activities referred to.(6) The Cabinet shall determine the requirements for competent authorities andcompetent specialists in respect of labour protection issues, as well as the procedures bywhich the competence of such authorities and specialists are evaluated.[20 November 2003; 16 December 2004]Section 10. Consultations, Informing Employees and Participation in LabourProtection(1) An employer has an obligation to consult with employees or trusted representativesin the field of labour protection, as well as to ensure that the trusted representatives have anopportunity to participate in meetings regarding issues which relate to:1) measures which may affect the safety and health of employees;2) the establishment and activities of labour protection organisational structures;3) the designation of those employees to whom the provision of first aid has beenentrusted, and the performance of fire fighting and evacuation of employees measures;4) the internal supervision of the work environment, and informing of employeesregarding labour protection, also in cases, when working with another employer or withseveral employers;5) the planning and organisation of instruction and training in the field of labourprotection; and6) other labour protection issues.(2) An employer shall inform employees and trusted representatives regarding workenvironment risks, regarding labour protection measures in the undertaking as a whole andregarding those labour protection measures which directly relate to each workplace and typeof work, as well as regarding measures which have been performed in accordance with theprovisions of Section 12, Paragraph two of this Law.(3) An employer shall ensure that labour protection specialists, trusted representativesand employees have access to information regarding:1) the results of the work environment risk evaluation and the occupations (positions) orworkplace lists referred to in Section 7, Paragraph two of this Law;2) the labour protection measures and the protective equipment to be utilised specifiedby the employer;3) accidents at work and cases of occupational disease;4) State Labour Inspection explanations, opinions and instructions regarding labourprotection issues, as well as regarding State Labour Inspection warnings, orders and decisionswhich relate to the labour protection system in the undertaking; and5) other labour protection issues in the undertaking.[16 December 2004]Section 11. Protection against Serious and Direct Danger

(1) An employer shall ensure that:1) employees who in accordance with a work environment risk evaluation may bethreatened with serious and direct danger at work, are to be informed without delayconcerning these dangers, as well as regarding the labour protection measures performed or tobe performed;2) workplaces which in accordance with a work environment risk evaluation may bethreatened with serious and direct danger at work, are accessible only to those employees whohave been instructed or trained in the field of labour protection, taking into account thespecifics of the relevant workplace;3) in cases, when serious and direct danger threatens the safety of an employee andanother person and it is not possible to communicate with the direct work supervisor or labourprotection specialist, trusted representative or employer – an employee in accordance with hisor her knowledge and the existing technical means available to him or her is able to performappropriate measures which would allow him or her to avoid such dangers; and4) in the case of serious and direct danger, employees are able to stop work and leave thethreatened workplace.(2) An employer is not entitled to request that employees resume work if the necessarymeasures to eliminate the danger have not been performed.Section 12. First Aid and Other Emergency Measures(1) An employer shall, in an undertaking, ensure measures that are necessary for theprovision of first aid, limitation or elimination of the consequences in respect of an accidentwith dangerous equipment, fire fighting, and evacuation of employees and other persons.The employer shall:1) ensure communications with external services, especially with services which provideemergency medical assistance and perform fire-fighting and rescue operations; and2) designate employees who are trained in the provision of first aid, and the performanceof fire fighting and employee evacuation measures, and shall ensure that these employees arein sufficient number, are adequately trained and are equipped with the necessary equipment.(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures as to how training in the provision offirst aid is ensured.(4) The Cabinet shall determine the necessary minimum of medicinal materials for theprovision of first aid.[16 December 2004]Section 13. Investigation and Registration of Accidents at Work andOccupational Diseases(1) An employer shall ensure the investigation of accidents at work and shall performregistration thereof. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the investigation andregistration of accidents at work.(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the investigation and registration ofoccupational diseases, the list of occupational diseases, as well as the factors causingoccupational diseases and the list of use categories thereof.[16 December 2004]

Section 14. Instruction and Training of Employees and TrustedRepresentatives(1) An employer shall ensure that each employee receives instructions and is trained inthe field of labour protection, which is directly related to his or her workplace and workperformance. Such instruction shall be carried out on commencement of work, when there arechanges in the nature or circumstances of the work, on the introduction of new or on changingthe previous work equipment, and on the introduction of new technology. The instruction ofemployees shall be adapted to changes in work environment risks and shall be repeatedperiodically.(2) An employer shall ensure additional training for trusted representatives in the field oflabour protection within a period of one month after election thereof.(3) Additional training for trusted representatives in the field of labour protection shallbe performed during working time. The employer shall cover expenditures which areassociated with additional training.(4) Labour protection instruction and training shall be understandable to employees andsuitable for their professional preparedness. The employer shall ascertain that the employeeshave understood the labour protection instruction and training.[16 December 2004]Section 15. Mandatory Health Examinations(1) An employer shall ensure mandatory health examinations for those employees whosestate of health is influenced or may be influenced by harmful to health work environmentfactors, and for those employees who have special conditions at work. The Cabinet shalldetermine the procedures for the performance of the mandatory health examination.(2) The employer shall cover expenditures, which are associated with mandatory healthexaminations of employees.(3) Expenditures, which are associated with mandatory health examinations prior to thecommencement of employment legal relations or civil service legal relations, on the basis ofmutual agreement shall be covered by a person from his or her own funds or by the employer.[20 November 2003]Section 16. Co-operation among Several Employers(1) If in one workplace employees from several employers are employed, then theemployers have an obligation to co-operate in the performance of labour protection measures.Taking into account the nature and circumstances of the work, the employers have anobligation to co-ordinate the labour protection measures to be performed and to inform eachother, and their employees and trusted representatives regarding work environment risks, aswell as provide relevant instruction to employees.(2) An employer shall perform the necessary measures so that the employer ofemployees from another undertaking engaged in his or her undertaking receives informationregarding work environment risks, regarding labour protection measures in the undertaking asa whole, and those labour protection measures which directly relate to each workplace andtype of work, as well as those measures which are performed in accordance with theprovisions of Section 12, Paragraph two of this Law, in sufficient time (prior to suchengagement).

(3) An employer shall ensure that the employees from another employer engaged in hisor her undertaking receive instruction in the field of labour protection prior to thecommencement of work and during the whole period that they are employed in theundertaking.Chapter IIIObligations and Rights of Employees and Trusted RepresentativesSection 17. Obligations of EmployeesIn the field of labour protection, employees have an obligation to:1) take care of their own safety and the safety and health of those persons who areaffected or may be affected by the work of the employees;2) use work equipment, dangerous substances, transport and other means of productionin accordance with the documentation specified by regulatory enactments (manufacturer'sinstructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances and chemical products, andothers);3) use collective protective equipment, as well as personal protective equipment put attheir disposal in accordance with the documentation specified by regulatory enactments(manufacturer's instructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances and chemicalproducts, and others), and to place the relevant protective equipment in the place provided forthem after use thereof;4) observe safety signs, as well as to use the safety devices which the work equipmentand workplace is supplied with in accordance with the documentation specified by regulatoryenactments (manufacturer's instructions, safety data sheets regarding chemical substances andchemical products, and others), and to refrain from arbitrarily starting, changing or movingthe relevant safety devices;5) immediately inform the employer, direct work supervisor or labour protectionspecialist regarding an accident at work, as well as regarding any work environment factorswhich cause or may cause risk to the safety and health of persons, also regardingshortcomings in the labour protection system of the undertaking;6) participate in the instruction and training in the field of labour protection organised bythe employer;7) co-operate with the employer or labour protection specialist, to meet the requirementswhich are included in the opinions, orders or decisions of the State Labour Inspectionregarding the labour protection system of the undertaking;8) co-operate with the employer or labour protection specialist in ensuring a safe workenvironment and working conditions so that risks to the safety and health of employees arenot caused; and9) attend mandatory health examinations in accordance with an order by the employer.Section 18. Rights of Employees to Refuse to Perform Work and Participationin Labour Protection Measures(1) An employee has the right to refuse to perform work if:

1) the performance of the relevant work causes or may cause risk to the safety and healthof the employee or another person and this risk cannot be prevented in another way;2) the work equipment to be used or the workplace is not supplied with the necessarysafety devices or the employee has not been given at his or her disposal the necessarypersonal protective equipment;3) the performance of the relevant work is associated with such use of work equipmentas does not conform to the professional preparedness of the employee or the instruction in thefield of labour protection provided by the employer; or4) the warnings, orders or decisions of the State Labour Inspection regarding the labourprotection organisation in the relevant workplace have not been observed.(2) In respect of refusal to perform work, the employee shall inform his or her directwork supervisor or labour protection specialist, or trusted representative, or employer withoutdelay.(3) No unfavourable consequences shall be allowed to occur to employees in respect ofthe actions referred to in this Section and in Section 11, Paragraph one, Clause 4 of this Law,except for gross negligence and in cases where the employees have acted in bad faith.(4) Employees and trusted representatives have the right to turn to the State LabourInspection with a submission if they consider that labour protection measures performed bythe employer, as well as the means granted and utilised are insufficient to ensure safety andhealth protection of employees at work. Trusted representatives have the right jointly with theState Labour Inspection to participate in evaluations of workplaces.(5) In order to specify the labour protection measures, the amount of necessary fundingfor them and the procedures for the utilisation of the funding in accordance with therequirements of labour protection regulatory enactments, employees or representatives ofemployees may propose the conclusion of an agreement between the employer and theemployees.Section 19. Rights of Employees to Compensation upon Termination of Workor Civil Service Relations Due to a Safety and Heath Threat at WorkIf an employee unilaterally terminates work legal relations or civil service relations dueto the non-performance of all the necessary labour protection measures by an employer andthe safety and health of the employee at work is substantially threatened, and the fact of thethreat is confirmed by an opinion by the State Labour Inspection, the employer has anobligation to pay the employee compensation which is not less than six months averageearnings.Section 20. Representation of Employees in the Field of Labour Protection(1) In an undertaking or unit thereof in which five or more employees are employed,these employees or their representatives, taking into account the number of employees, thenature of the work of the undertaking and the work environment risks, shall elect one or moretrusted representatives. The election of an employee as a trusted representative may not causehim or her unfavourable consequences or restrict in other way his or her rights.(2) If in the undertaking or unit thereof at least two trusted representatives are elected,then they from among themselves shall elect a principal trusted representative. If in theundertaking, at least 10 trusted representatives are elected, then they shall establish a trustedrepresentative committee which shall co-ordinate the work of the trusted representatives.

(3) An employer shall ensure trusted representatives with the necessary means, as well asgrant them the time during working hours which is specified in the collective agreement orother written agreement between the employer and employees for the performance of theduties of a trusted representative, in order that the trusted representatives may exercise theirrights and duties in the field of labour protection. The employer shall pay the trustedrepresentative average earnings for this time.(4) In order for an employer on his or her own initiative to terminate work or civilservice relations with a trusted representative, he or she shall firstly obtain the consent of theState Labour Inspection.(5) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the election and activities of a trustedrepresentative, taking into account the number of employees, the nature of the work of theundertaking and the work environment risks.[16 December 2004]Section 21. Participation of Trusted Representatives in the InternalSupervision of the Work EnvironmentA trusted representative shall:1) participate in the evaluation of work environment risks, the planning and examinationof the effectiveness of labour protection measures, as well as the conformity assessments ofwork equipment;2) participate in the investigation of accidents at work and the entry into service ofproduction equipment and objects, as well as the performance of internal performance of thework environment;3) receive from the employer regulatory enactments regarding labour protection,normative technical documentation, instructions and other labour protection regulations, aswell as explanations and other information which relates to labour protection; and4) request that the employer performs labour protection measures, and shall expressproposals the implementation of which would prevent or reduce the risks to the safety andhealth of employees.Section 22. ReliefThose employees for whom in accordance with regulatory enactments special protectionhas been specified (persons up to 18 years of age, pregnant women, women in the post-natalperiod, disabled persons, and employees included in the lists referred to in Section 7,Paragraph two of this Law), in conformity with a work environment risk evaluation, as wellas a physician's opinion, have the right to supplementary relief specified by an employer.Chapter IVCompetence of the State and Local Governments in the Field of LabourProtectionSection 23. State Policy in the Field of Labour Protection(1) State policy in the field of labour protection shall be based on:

1) the priority of the safety and health protection of employees;2) the co-operation of the State, local governments, employer organisations andemployee trade unions on labour protection issues;3) the co-ordination of labour protection issues with other economic and social issues;4) the results of scientific research in the field of labour protection;5) State participation in the financing of labour protection measures;6) safe technological processes and work equipment, and the stimulation of the design,production and purchase of collective and personal protection equipment;7) training in educational institutions in the field of labour protection;8) State supervision and control in the field of labour protection;9) the social protection of employees in relation to accidents at work and occupationaldiseases;and10) the requirements of the European Union and the International Labour Organisation;11) international co-operation in the field of labour protection.(2) The performance of labour protection measures by institutions financed from thebudget shall be ensured within the scope of the funding specified in the annual State budgetlaw.Section 24. State Administration in the Field of Labour Protection(1) State administration in the field of labour protection shall be implemented by theCabinet and on its delegation – the Ministry of Welfare.(2) The Ministry of Welfare shall:1) formulate State policy in the field of labour protection and co-ordinateimplementation thereof;2) co-ordinate the activity of State administrative institutions on labour protection issues;3) monitor the activities of the State Labour Inspection;4) formulate and co-ordinate in the National Trilateral Co-operation Council nationalprogrammes in the field of labour protection;5) formulate and co-ordinate in the National Trilateral Co-operation Council labourprotection regulatory enactments;6) co-ordinate the inclusion of labour protection issues in international agreements; and7) determine the State statistics registration and statistical reporting system in the field oflabour protection after co-ordination with the Central Statistical Bureau.(3) The Ministry of Education and Science shall, in accordance with the proceduresspecified by law, formulate a model labour protection specialist and trusted representativepreparation programme (except for study programmes), and model training programmes inthe field of labour protection.(4) State administration institutions shall, in accordance with their field of activities,formulate draft labour protection regulatory enactments to be issued by the Cabinet.

Section 25. Authorisation for the Cabinet to Issue Regulations regardingLabour ProtectionThe Cabinet shall issue regulations regarding labour protection requirements:1) for workplaces;2) when using work equipment;3) when using personal protection equipment;4) when working with displays;5) when moving heavy loads;6) in performing construction;7) in use of safety signs;8) in the extraction of mineral resources, by drilling;9) in the extraction of surface and underground mineral resources;10) in work on fishing vessels;11) in contact with chemical substances;12) in contact with biological substances;13) in relation to the level of noise at work;14) in work with asbestos;15) in relation to medical care on ships;16) in contact with carcinogenic substances;17) when working on heights;18) in relation to other requirements which are regulated by European Union directiveson labour protection; and19) in performing work in forestry.[16 December 2004]Chapter VSupervision, Control and Liability in the Field of Labour ProtectionSection 26. State Supervision and Control in the Field of Labour ProtectionState supervision and control in the field of labour protection shall be performed by theState Labour Inspection and other institutions authorised by regulatory enactments inconformity with their competence.Section 27. Liability of Employers and Other Persons(1) An employer is liable regarding the safety and health of employees at work.(2) The liability of employers shall not limited by the obligations of employees andcompetent authorities or competent specialists in the field of labour protection.(3) Within the scope of their competence, an employer's – legal person – supervisingbody or executive body, a person who is especially authorised to represent a partnership, and

persons authorised according to procedures specified in other regulatory enactments shall alsobe liable regarding the safety and health of employees at work.Section 28. Liability for Violations of the LawFor violations of the regulatory enactments regarding labour protection, persons at faultshall be held liable as specified by law.Transitional Provisions1. With the coming into force of this Law, the Law On Labour Protection (LatvijasRepublikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1993, No. 20 is repealed;2. The Cabinet shall issue by 30 June 2002 the regulations referred to in Sections7,8,9,12,13,15,20 and 25 of this Law.3. Until the day of the coming into force of the new Cabinet regulations, but not laterthan 30 June 2002, the following Cabinet regulations shall be applicable:1) Cabinet Regulation No. 153 of 3 April 2001, Regulations on Protection of Safety andHealth at Work when Working with a Display Screen and Setting up a Workstation;2) Cabinet Regulation No. 72 of 13 February 2001, Requirements for Safety and Healthprotection at Work in Working with Chemical Substances and Chemical Products in theWorkplace;3) Cabinet Regulation No. 318 of 19 September 2000, On the Requirements Regardingthe Organising of Work Safety and Health Protection and the Equipping of Workplaces atConstruction Sites;4) Cabinet Regulation No. 167 of 2 May 2000, Procedures for the Investigation andRegistration of Accidents Occurring to Employees of Institutions of the Ministry of theInterior;5) Cabinet Regulation No. 159 of 25 April 2000, Use of Personal Protective Equipmentat Work;6) Cabinet Regulation No. 44 of 8 February 2000, Minimum Requirements for Safety atWork and Protection of Health when Using Work Equipment;7) Cabinet Regulation No. 270 of 3 August 1999, Regulations regarding Work Safetyand Health Protection Requirements when Moving Heavy Loads;8) Cabinet Regulation No. 470 of 22 December 1998, Procedures for the Investigationand Registration of Accidents at Work;9) Cabinet Regulation No. 317 of 25 August 1998, Regulations regarding Work Safetyand Health Protection of Employees in Work with Asbestos;10) Cabinet Regulation No, 318 of 25 August 1998, Requirements for Use of SafetySigns in Workplaces;11) Cabinet Regulation No. 201 of 4 October 1994, On Amendments to CabinetRegulation No. 53 of 22 February 1994, On Procedures for the Formulation and Approval ofRegulatory Enactments on Technical Supervision of Labour Protection, Safety Equipmentand Dangerous Installations; and

12) Cabinet Regulation No. 53 of 22 February 1994, On Procedures for the Formulationand Approval of Regulatory Enactments on Technical Supervision of Labour Protection,Safety Equipment and Dangerous Installations.4. Until 31 December 2002, the Cabinet shall formulate the following regulationsregarding:and1) work safety and health protection requirements for work on fishing vessels;2) work safety and health protection requirements in relation to medical care on ships;3) employee safety and health protection for work in a dangerous explosivesenvironment.5. The Ministry of Education and Science until 1 March 2002 shall formulate the modelprogrammes referred to in Section 24, Paragraph three of this Law.6. The Ministry of Health shall develop and the Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2005, issue theregulations referred to in Section 12, Paragraph four of this Law.[16 December 2004]7. The Ministry of Welfare shall develop and the Cabinet shall issue the regulationsreferred to in Section 13 of this Law. Up to the day of the coming into force thereof, but notlater than up to 30 June 2005, Cabinet Regulation No. 293 of 9 July 2002, Procedures forInvestigation and Registration of Accidents at Work shall be applied insofar as they are not incontradiction with this Law.[16 December 2004]This Law shall come into force on 1 January 2002.This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 20 June 2001.PresidentV.Vīķe-FreibergaRīga, 6 July 2001