Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
J. Environ. Treat. Tech.  
ISSN: 2309-1185  
Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com  
Safety and Labor Protection: USA and Russian  
Experience  
1
1
1
Evgeniya M. Bronnikova *, Olga S. Kulyamina , Marina V. Vinogradova , Viktoria A.  
1
1
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2
Vishnjakova , Lidia A. Vasilieva , Daniil V. Volkov , Anna A. Larionova  
1Scientific and Research Institute of Prospective Trends and Technologies, Russian State Social University, Moscow, Russia  
Department of Economic Security, Audit and Controlling, Kosygin State University of Russia, (Technology. Design. Art), Moscow,  
Russia  
2
Received: 13/09/2019  
Accepted: 22/11/2019  
Published: 20/12/2019  
Abstract  
In Russia, there is an objective need to improve the system of labor protection, it is necessary to eliminate the main causes that  
lead to occupational injuries and occupational diseases of workers. The study is devoted to the problem of labor protection in Russia  
and the USA. The aim is to compare Russian and foreign experience in the field of labor protection, to identify prospects for the  
application of the US experience in Russia. The study used methods of analysis, comparative and comparative analysis,  
generalization, systematization of data. The novelty lies in the possibility of applying foreign experience in improving the system of  
labor protection in Russia. The study revealed that the basis of industrial injuries, occupational diseases in the Russian Federation, is  
the imperfection of fixed assets and technological processes, as well as unsatisfactory organization of work and organization of jobs.  
In the United States, the most significant cause of fatal injuries are traffic accidents, non-compliance with safety regulations. The  
results can be applied in the state regulation of the system of preventive measures to reduce industrial injuries and occupational  
diseases.  
Keywords: Labor protection, Occupational safety, Occupational injuries, Occupational diseases, The financial provision of  
preventive measures  
1
The aim of the study is to compare the Russian and  
1
Introduction  
foreign experience of labor protection and insurance against  
industrial accidents and occupational diseases, to identify the  
prospects for the application of foreign experience in Russia  
In accordance with the goal, the following tasks were set:  
Modern science considers the problem of communication  
of public health with its performance one of the fundamental.  
Occupational diseases are associated with enormous losses  
both for workers and their families and for the economic and  
social development of countries. Half of the world's people  
are economically active and spend at least a third of their  
time in the workplace. Fair employment and decent work are  
important social determinants of health, and a healthy  
workforce is an important prerequisite for productivity and  
economic development. The state system of labor protection  
and insurance against industrial accidents and occupational  
diseases is one of the integral elements of modern industrial  
society. In all developed countries, these systems have come  
a long way of development, in particular in the United States,  
where there is now an effective state system of management  
of labor protection and social protection and assistance to  
victims, the formation of these systems took decades.  
analyze the statistics of occupational injuries and  
morbidity in Russia and the United States;  
identify the root causes of injury and disease;  
consider ways to improve the system of labor  
protection in Russia, taking into account the experience of the  
United States.  
The degree of elaboration of the research topic is  
determined by a number of publications of Russian and  
foreign scientists. Understanding the patterns of occupational  
injuries is discussed in D. Kakhki, F. Freeman and S.A.  
Mosher (6). Safety motivation to prevent occupational  
injuries is analyzed by M. Nykänen et al. (12). S.W. Bae et al.  
(1) considers industrial accidents and their consequences.  
G.H Choi (2) reviews the industrial safety management.  
Occupational safety issues are covered at A.S. Zikriyoev and  
R.A. Crane (19). The consequences of accidents and injuries  
at work are given in the work of S.K. Kang (7). The impact of  
occupational accidents on income is examined by S.W. Bae  
Corresponding autor: Evgeniya M. Bronnikova, Scientific  
and Research Institute of Prospective Trends and  
Technologies, Russian State Social University, Moscow,  
Russia. E-mail: BronnikovaEM@ rgsu.net.  
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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
et al. (1). Ph. Jacobs (5) considers the cost of injury and  
illness. Statistics of injuries and diseases are presented on the  
official website of the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics (16).  
Russian scientists consider the issues of ensuring safe  
working conditions of workers in the labor process (3), the  
problems of assessing industrial injuries (4). Economic  
incentives for employers in the field of health and safety  
considers (9). State control in the sphere of labor in Russia  
leads (17). Analysis of foreign experience of labor protection  
leads (14) corporate social responsibility (11). Improving  
preventive measures to reduce occupational injuries and  
morbidity analyzes (18). O.S. Kulyamina, O.V. Shinkareva  
and V.A. Vishnyakova (10) considers the financial provision  
of preventive measures Directions for improving the system  
of labor protection in Russia are given in the report on  
research (8). Statistics of industrial injuries and morbidity in  
Russia are presented on the official website of the Federal  
state statistics service of the Russian Federation and on the  
website of the social insurance Fund of the Russian  
Federation (15).  
account existing state measures. The method of  
generalization allowed to consider the prospects of  
application of the US experience in the Russian reality and to  
formulate the practical significance of the study. The method  
of analysis and systematization of data allowed to structure  
the results obtained in the course of research on the dynamics  
of occupational injuries and occupational morbidity in Russia  
and the United States and to identify areas of improvement of  
the labor protection system in Russia, taking into account  
foreign experience. The object of the study is the system of  
labor protection in the United States and Russia.  
3
Results  
According to the statistics of industrial injuries in the  
world, workplace accidents are one of the most significant  
problems for most countries. About 125 million industrial  
accidents occur in the world every year. On average, about  
220 thousand people die. Mortality from injuries sustained in  
the workplace, today ranks third in the world. Often  
employers hide the facts of accidents, for fear of incurring  
administrative or criminal liability. Many workplace injuries  
and deaths remain unaccounted for. Most accidents occur in  
Japan, Germany, USA, France and Russia. Statistics of  
industrial injuries prove that almost half of accidents are  
caused by employers, they do not provide workers with  
means of protection. It is interesting to compare the situation  
in the field of industrial injuries and occupational diseases in  
Russia and the United States. In the Russian Federation, the  
number of accidents at work and the number of occupational  
diseases have been decreasing in recent years (8), there is a  
slight increase in the number of accidents in the United States  
(Figure 1).  
2
Methods  
The study uses methods of analysis, comparative  
analysis, comparative analysis, generalization, analysis and  
systematization of data. The theoretical and empirical method  
of the analysis allowed to reveal interrelations in dynamics of  
industrial traumatism and occupational diseases with system  
of labor protection in the USA and Russia. Application of the  
method of comparative analysis allowed to find regularities in  
the system of labor protection of the studied countries. The  
method of comparative analysis made it possible to study  
trends in the dynamics of injuries and morbidity, taking into  
5190  
5147  
4
2
821  
221  
4836  
1886  
1870  
1620  
2
014  
2015  
2016  
The USA  
2017  
Russia  
Figure 1: Dynamics of fatal industrial injuries in Russia and the United States in 2014-2017  
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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
In the United States, the most significant cause of fatal  
injuries are traffic accidents, non-compliance with safety  
regulations, which led to a fall from a height, a high  
proportion of violence at work (figure 2). In 2017, there were  
the highest number of falls from heights in the last 26 years  
of keeping statistics of fatal accidents at work. The number of  
accidents related to drug overdoses and alcohol abuse during  
working hours has increased. A marked decrease in mortality  
caused by contact with equipment and machinery (16). The  
greatest increase in the number of fatal accidents in 2017 in  
Russia was observed due to the unsatisfactory technical  
condition of buildings, structures and territory (figure 3). Due  
to the lack of instruction on labor protection, an increase in  
the number of accidents is noticeable. A significant impact on  
the reduction of these indicators had preventive measures to  
reduce industrial injuries and occupational diseases, including  
a special assessment of working conditions. Fatal industrial  
injuries, according to the Federal service for labor and  
employment, the last 10 years has a steady downward trend  
(8).  
2
.4  
1.7  
.5  
Other causes  
Fires and explosions  
2
1
7.3  
16.4  
6.6  
1
1
7.3  
16.4  
6.6  
Fall from height  
1
2
017  
2016  
015  
1
5.8  
16.8  
4.6  
Violence, killing people and animals  
1
2
1
0.4  
0.0  
.8  
Exposure to harmful substances or the  
environment  
1
8
1
3.6  
Contact with facilities and equipment  
Traffic accidents  
14.7  
1
5.0  
4
0.6  
40.3  
4
2.6  
Figure 2: Structure of severe fatal accidents caused by accident in the United States, %  
1
9.7  
20  
Others  
1
9.4  
1
2.7  
0.2  
.4  
Violation of labor regulations and labor discipline  
by an employee  
1
9
2
2.8  
.9  
3.2  
Non-use of personal and collective protective  
equipment  
Shortcomings in the organization and training of  
security personnel  
3.8  
3
.5  
2.5  
2017  
2016  
2015  
1
3.3  
11.7  
2.8  
The traffic violation  
1
3
2.5  
3
The reasons connected with the unsatisfactory  
organization of production and the…  
Violation of safety requirements in the operation  
of vehicles  
5.5  
5.3  
3
3
.9  
.4  
.5  
3
4
6
Violation of the technological process  
6.7  
6
.9  
5
.2  
6
Imperfection of fixed assets and technological  
process  
.1  
.7  
5
Figure 3: Structure of accidents with severe consequences with fatal outcome due to the causes of the accident in Russia, %  
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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
In 2017, 882,730 work-related injuries and illnesses were  
reported. The number of cases involving overvoltage during  
ascent or descent has increased. There was a decrease in the  
number of cases involving workers affected by objects or  
equipment (figure 4). The main occupational injuries are  
sprains and bruises (16). In Russia in 2017, the most common  
types of accidents with severe consequences were the impact  
of moving parts and mechanisms and falling from a height  
at work with severe consequences, the majority are due to  
reasons associated with poor organization of work and  
organization of workplaces (8). In general, the causes of  
industrial injuries in Russia and the United States are similar.  
In 2017, the overall morbidity rate in the manufacturing  
industry decreased (figure 6). In the areas of production,  
Finance and insurance, there has been  
occupational morbidity (16).  
a decline in  
(
Figure 5). In the general structure of the causes of accidents  
0
.4  
0
.1  
Contact with facilities and equipment  
Falling victim from a height  
Overexertion  
4
.5  
.2  
4
5.5  
2
5.9  
Transportation incidents  
Violence and other injuries by persons or  
animal  
33.5  
Fires and explosions  
2
5.8  
Exposure to harmful substances or  
environments  
All other events  
Figure 4: Structure of non-fatal accidents by accident causes in 2017 in the United States, %  
The fall of the victim from a height  
15  
22.3  
Impact of moving, flying, rotating objects, parts,  
machines, etc.  
2
.4  
.2  
Traffic accident  
2
Fall, collapse, collapses of objects, materials, land, etc.  
Effect of electric current  
3
.7  
3
.8  
Damage as a result of illegal actions of other persons  
Exposure to other unqualified traumatic factors  
Exposure to smoke, fire and flame  
Others  
1
1.9  
2
4.5  
14.2  
Figure 5: Distribution of accidents with severe consequences by types of accidents in 2017, %  
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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
2
2
2
2
2
2
017  
016  
015  
014  
013  
012  
14.60  
15.59  
15.06  
15.09  
16.84  
8.77 1.35 9.36  
8.34 1.47 10.31  
9.15 1.33 10.38  
9.34 1.27 11.03  
9.82 1.60 10.63  
9.52 1.43 10.04  
65.92  
64.29  
64.08  
63.27  
61.10  
62.94  
16.07  
10%  
0
%
20%  
30%  
40%  
50%  
60%  
70%  
80%  
90%  
100%  
Skin diseases or disorders Respiratory conditions Poisonings Hearing loss All other illnesses  
Figure 6: Structure of occupational diseases and poisonings depending on influencing factors of labor process in the USA, %  
1
5.98  
.921.47  
0.36  
2
2
2
2
2
2
017  
016  
015  
014  
013  
012  
47.82  
47.79  
48.85  
46.79  
46.65  
47.4  
16.37  
15.87  
26.08  
24.69  
23.59  
25.18  
23.71  
22.92  
1
.54  
6.98 2.66 0.46  
2
.31 1.85  
5.45 0.32  
.51  
17.62  
1
.26  
2
6.26  
17.56  
18.25  
17.34  
0.44  
.77  
6.432.74 0.44  
.31  
1
2
3.895.18 0.39  
0%  
10%  
20%  
30%  
40%  
50%  
60%  
70%  
80%  
90% 100%  
Diseases associated with exposure to physical factors  
Diseases associated with exposure to industrial aerosols  
Diseases associated with physical overload and overstrain of individual organs and systems  
Diseases (intoxication) caused by exposure to chemicals  
Diseases caused by biological factors  
Allergic disease  
Professional neoplasms  
Figure 7: Structure of occupational diseases and poisonings depending on influencing factors of labor process in Russia, %  
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The largest share in the structure of occupational diseases  
and poisonings is occupied by occupational pathologies  
associated with the impact of physical factors of the labor  
process. Physical overload and overvoltage of individual  
organs and systems occupy a significant share (13, 23, 24).  
In recent years, Russia has been working to improve the  
system of social insurance against industrial accidents and  
occupational diseases. In order to find the best ways to solve  
this problem, it is necessary to study the practical experience  
of foreign countries. Russia is interested in the experience of  
the United States, where the legal basis of the current state  
system of labor protection is the law on occupational safety,  
according to which the Federal Agency for occupational  
safety Management was established. To help victims in the  
United States created a state system of insurance of industrial  
injuries. It provides cash benefits and medical assistance to  
victims and their families. The basic principles of  
occupational injury insurance programs in the United States  
are identical in different States. The difference is in  
determining the amount of benefits, methods of  
administrative regulation, conditions of implementation of  
programs. The amount of cash payments in different States  
ranges from 66% to 100% of the previous average weekly  
salary of the employee, but not above the maximum.  
Individual state programs are administered by occupational  
injury insurance commissions or special units of labor  
departments. Insurance premiums for occupational injuries  
are collected from employers. Employers involved in  
insurance bear the burden of paying for work-related injuries.  
Insurance benefits are also provided in connection with death  
resulting from an industrial accident.  
Commission that investigates the circumstances of the  
incident and establishes the reasons. Based on the results of  
the investigation, the Commission proposes methods and  
solutions aimed at preventing such incidents in the future. At  
the moment, Russia has a system of measures for financial,  
credit and tax policy, contributing to the economic interest of  
employers to improve working conditions and safety,  
preservation and promotion of worker’s health. In particular,  
there is a system of additional rates of insurance premiums  
for compulsory pension insurance in the Pension Fund of the  
Russian Federation to Finance the insurance pension  
associated with the established results of a special assessment  
of working conditions. Insurance against accidents and  
occupational diseases is carried out by additional multipliers  
of insurance premiums depending on the level of danger. The  
amount of funds allocated for the financial provision of  
preventive measures may not exceed 20% of the amounts of  
insurance premiums in the FSE of the Russian Federation for  
the previous year less the costs of payment of security for this  
type of insurance made in the same year. Enterprises are  
turning to the social insurance Fund for reimbursement of the  
costs of preventive measures.  
4
Discussion  
The study revealed that the basis of industrial injuries,  
occupational diseases in the Russian Federation, is the  
imperfection of fixed assets and technological processes, as  
well as unsatisfactory organization of work and organization  
of jobs. In the United States, the most significant cause of  
fatal injuries are traffic accidents, non-compliance with safety  
regulations.  
Occupational injury insurance in all States provides two  
types of compensation: medical fees and cash benefits to  
victims. The programs provide for payment by the employer  
of medical services for the treatment of injuries. Many States  
have limits on the length of treatment, no more than 6  
months, and the total amount of medical expenses.  
In Russia, there is an objective need to improve the  
system of labor protection, it is necessary to eliminate the  
main causes that lead to occupational injuries and  
occupational diseases of workers. There is an urgent need for  
the possibility of sending the organization of insurance  
premiums for the replacement, modernization or repair of  
equipment and buildings that are in a high degree of  
deterioration. The renewal of industrial equipment should be  
economically stimulated, and companies should be given the  
opportunity to replace or repair obsolete equipment not only  
at their own expense, but also by financing preventive  
measures (10). At the same time, it is necessary to determine  
the conditions for the possibility of sending contributions for  
compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and  
occupational diseases for replacement, modernization or  
repair of equipment (18, 21, 22).  
The US experience in the field of administrative  
regulation of the labor protection system can be applied in the  
Russian reality. It is possible to apply a system of penalties  
for enterprises whose employees have identified problems  
with labor protection.  
It is necessary to improve the functioning of Federal  
programs of labor protection, the development of  
methodological materials on labor protection and measures to  
inform workers about the dangers.it is also possible to allow  
employers to Finance the part of insurance premiums for  
training of employees who are engaged in the organization of  
the production process. It is necessary to train employees in  
the skills of rational and safe organization of the workplace  
The U.S. has an industry-wide occupational safety  
administration, which operates a hotline to collect complaints  
about violations. The employee has the right to appeal to the  
administration on the issues of occupational health and safety  
in the workplace. Inspections are carried out on the basis of  
complaints. Also imposed fines in the amount of 250  
thousand dollars. for the first violation, up to 500 thousand  
dollars. for the following (14, 20). Special simplified  
information and regulatory and methodological materials  
have been developed for small and medium-sized businesses.  
These materials facilitate the perception and assimilation of  
safety regulations and the main responsibilities of the  
employer and employee for risk management. Each state has  
adopted laws and created Executive bodies in the field of  
safety and health, issued regulations to limit the use of  
hazardous materials, requirements for ventilation, water  
supply, storage of industrial waste. Employers are obliged to  
inform employees about the dangers of production processes,  
to teach safety, to record cases of industrial injuries and loss  
of working time as a result of accidents at work.  
Russian legislation has an approved procedure for the  
investigation of an industrial accident in the Labor code of  
the Russian Federation. The employer is obliged to create a  
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2019, Special Issue on Environment, Management and Economy, Pages: 1134-1140  
and the implementation of the production process. This will  
prevent a significant number of accidents and incidents and  
strengthen the rule of law in the field of occupational safety.  
9. Kaurova OV, Shinkareva OV, Maloletko AN, Vinogradova MV,  
Kulyamina OS. Occupational health and safety: economic  
incentives for employers. Moscow: RUSYNS. 2019.  
1
0. Kulyamina OS, Shinkareva OV, Vishnyakova VA. Financial  
support of preventive measures to reduce industrial injuries and  
occupational diseases. Social policy and sociology.  
2019;1(130):22-31.  
5
Conclusion  
There is a need to amend the current legislation in the  
Russian Federation in the field of labor protection, it is  
necessary to take into account the best practices of the United  
States. It is necessary to allocate part of the social insurance  
Fund contributions for the purchase of new equipment and  
training of employees. It is possible to use a system of fines,  
similar to the functioning in the United States, and has shown  
its effectiveness. There is an objective need to improve the  
list of preventive measures financed by insurance  
contributions of employers, it is necessary to eliminate the  
main causes that lead to occupational injuries and  
occupational diseases of employees