The Ministry of Labor 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, which was published in the "Official Gazette of RS", No. 94/2020, which shall enter into force on. 11 July 2020.

Employers are obliged to adopt the plan in accordance with the prescribed provisions by August 10 at the latest.

This Rulebook prescribes the measures that the employer is obliged to apply, in order to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases and eliminate the 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.

This Rulebook applies to all workplaces in the work environment in which the work is performed, except for field work and work from home.

The plan of measures determines measures and activities that increase and improve the safety and health of employees in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, as well as measures and activities taken in case of spread of infectious diseases for safety and health at work and protection of persons present.

The plan for the implementation of measures need to contain:

  • preventive measures and activities to prevent the spread of an infectious disease,
  • in charge of implementing and controlling the implementation of preventive measures and activities, as well as
  • measures and activities for action in case of an epidemic of an infectious disease.

What is the employer obliged to provide?

  • before starting work, the employer is obliged to provide written instructions and instructions on measures and procedures to prevent the spread of an infectious disease epidemic, which contain information on the symptoms of an infectious disease;
  • 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;
  • carries out enhanced hygiene and disinfection of work and auxiliary rooms, which includes regular disinfection of rooms and often ventilate of the work space;
  • provide employees with sufficient amounts of soap, towels, water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers;
  • provide 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;
  • regulate the manner of keeping records on disinfection of working and auxiliary premises, which it organizes and implements;
  • provide the development of guidelines for safe and healthy work with contractors, suppliers, distributors and external associates;
  • organizes and ensures 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:

  • the area where the infected employee stayed is regularly physically and chemically disinfected and ventilated;
  • 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;
  • the directions of movement of employees through work and auxiliary premises are precisely defined;
  • strict control of the movement of employees from the organizational unit in which the infected employee worked is organized;
  • contacts of employees from the organizational unit in which the infected employee stayed with other employees are reduced to the necessary ones with the prescribed protection measures;
  • all other measures recommended by the epidemiologist are applied.

The employee is obliged to:

  • implements all preventive measures of safety and health at work in order to preserve their health, as well as the health of other employees;
  • purposefully uses the prescribed means and equipment for personal protection at work and to handle them carefully, so as not to endanger his safety and health as well as the safety and health of other pers
  • additionally takes care of his hygiene by washing his hands regularly and correctly;
  • keeps personal clothing separate from personal protective equipment at work and work clothes;
  • obligatorily inform the employer if he suspects the symptoms of a contagious disease in himself, other employees or members of his family;
  • before starting work, inspect his / her workplace, including the means of work he / she uses, as well as the means and equipment for personal protection at work, and in case of observed deficiencies, notify the employer or other authorized person;
  • before leaving the workplace, to leave the workplace and working tools in a position not to endanger other employees;
  • in accordance with its 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;
  • 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.