The annual conference “Establishing and Maintaining an Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) System in Your Company: Mitigating Risks in 2024” brought together business representatives to discuss recent regulatory updates, primary risk areas, organizing an OHS management system, and evolving expectations for the OHS specialist role.
Victoria Shevchenko, Head of OHS Client Projects, provided a comprehensive overview of the 2024 OHS updates, detailing the specific measures companies must implement to ensure compliance.
How to conduct an investigation correctly to avoid fines? Andrey Sakharov, Head of the Occupational Safety Service, shared his expertise on organizing workplace accident investigations — both in office and industrial settings — which are a primary trigger for inspections.
Given constant changes in business and legislation, the role of the OHS specialist must also evolve. What do employers expect, and what does the market demand? Svetlana Lazareva, OHS Consultant, guided attendees through an employee’s development trajectory — from digitizing workflows to integrating the specialist into the team and increasing engagement in the company’s growth.
What qualities do employers value in an OHS specialist today and in the future?
Adaptability, strong communication skills, and genuine passion for the field.
It is becoming increasingly crucial that all employees understand the OHS documents they sign and the purpose of their safety briefings. These actions must be meaningful, not mere formalities. This is where the OHS specialist’s influence is vital — to explain and convey the significance to colleagues. This process can lay the groundwork for a company-wide safety culture, where the value of OHS is championed by managers and opinion leaders.
Svetlana noted that supporting mental well-being remains a priority. In response to heightened anxiety levels, this involves promoting team emotional health through stress management, building resilience, offering flexible work arrangements, and corporate initiatives like basic self-care training.
As promised, we are sharing the OHS System Audit Checklist, prepared by Svetlana Lazareva.
A standout session was led by Lyudmila Filimonova, Health & Safety Engineer at LavoroSolutions, on establishing an office-based OHS system in Kazakhstan following the end of the moratorium on state inspections. Key discussion points included:
Whether office employees (accountants, lawyers, marketers, etc.) must undergo mandatory medical examinations.
Potential employer risks in the event of an incident (e.g., fainting, epileptic seizure, fatality).
Current issues related to the OHS Management System (OHSMS), workplace condition assessment, and criminal liability for safety violations.
