Since the beginning of this year, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has been actively working to implement the international standard ISO 45001. The standard entails establishing a new occupational health and safety management system within the enterprise.

 

The primary objective is to reduce the risk of workplace injuries and fatalities.

 

The enterprise has established a working group to draft normative acts on occupational health and safety in order to comply with the requirements of the international standard. To date, the enterprise has implemented the Procedure for Managing Occupational Risks and Opportunities within its Occupational Health and Safety Management System and carried out pilot projects for operational (production) monitoring, the results of which have informed the development of a draft Regulation on Its Conduct, incorporating the practical experience gained directly within the structural divisions.

 

The Regulation on the Conduct of Production Monitoring is intended to eventually replace the Regulation on Operational Administrative‑Public Control at enterprises and organizations in Ukraine’s forestry sector, which has been in force for over 25 years.

 

A draft Regulation on Audits of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System is being prepared, which provides for conducting internal audits of the OHSMS within the enterprise’s structural divisions; and carrying out audits at contractor organizations.

 

At the site of forestry operations, checklists are being introduced. Workstations will be inspected against compliance criteria — adequate crew staffing; the availability and use of personal and collective protective equipment; the serviceability of tools and auxiliary devices; the completeness of the first‑aid kit; etc. A three‑tier control system is envisaged — from the foreman up to the branch director, with involvement of the Occupational Safety Committees and the management body.

 

The Procedure for Managing Occupational Risks has been approved. This is a continuous, multi‑stage process that includes gathering feedback from employees. The procedure provides for ongoing training and scenario‑based drills before work commences.

 

Compliance with these rules will also be required of any contracting organizations with which SFE “Forests of Ukraine” enters into agreements. Verification of contractors’ adherence to the international standard will take place in two stages:

 

Stage one – the branch of the enterprise appoints a coordinator who will continuously monitor compliance with occupational safety requirements. If a violation is detected, the contractor will be granted time to rectify it. In the event of a repeat violation, the contract will be terminated.

 

Stage two – conducting audits. The enterprise’s working group is finalizing the core criteria and refining interaction mechanisms, including: planning the audit team; preparing the audit programme; establishing procedures for carrying out the audit and documenting its results.

 

These audits will give the management of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” assurance that contracting organizations are operating in full compliance with the established requirements and will help ensure that contractor personnel adhere to the safety protocols for work execution.