The Ministry of Labour issued letter PG/31983-03-3 reminding which financial penalties employers should expect if they breach occupational health and safety requirements.
In particular, if an employer fails to provide an employee with risk class 2 personal protective equipment (which is PPE protecting an employee from death or from serious injuries), this may result in a financial penalty not exceeding RUR 150,000. However, if an employer fails to provide risk class 1 PPE to an employee, this may result in a penalty of up to RUR 80,000.
In addition, the Ministry explains that employers are liable for each committed breach of OHS requirements involving: a failure to provide employees with the required class 2 PPE or for admitting an employee to work without the required OHS training and examination or for admitting an employee to work without the required medial examination. Therefore, considering that these breaches are frequently committed against a rather large number of employees, the total amount of penalty may reach several million roubles (EUR 1 is approximately RUR 64). Failure to provide class 1 PPE is considered as one general offence. The same applies to the offence of non-performance or inaccurate performance of the required workplace risk assessment (SOUT).