Belarus is introducing changes to the rules for investigating and recording industrial accidents.

December 1, Minsk . Belarus has expanded the scope of individuals and cases for investigating industrial accidents, the press service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection told BELTA. 

The ministry noted that on November 21, 2025, Resolution No. 660 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus "On Amending Resolutions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus" was adopted. The Ministry emphasized that the purpose of its adoption is to align government regulations with the requirements of Decree No. 108 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated March 18, 2025, "On Insurance."

The document amends the rules for investigating and recording industrial accidents and occupational diseases. Specifically, the scope of individuals covered by the rules has been expanded. These individuals now include sole founders (participants) of a legal entity during the period they perform relevant management (management) functions of that legal entity.

Previously, the rules applied to students of educational institutions engaged in paid work within the organization only during their internships and industrial training. Now, they apply to both such work and their internships.

The rules will also now apply to individuals sent for vocational training, retraining, and advanced training not only to educational institutions but also to government agencies.

These changes expand the range of circumstances under which an accident is subject to investigation in accordance with the rules. Investigation will now cover not only accidents that occur to individuals sent to complete an educational program or internship directly at the educational institution, but also those occurring while traveling on a business trip from their permanent place of residence to the educational institution and back.

The conditions under which an accident can be classified as non-occupational, meaning it does not entail payments to the victim under compulsory insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases, have also been changed. Previously, the conclusion that an accident was solely due to health could be drawn based on interviews with the victim, testimony from witnesses, and the victim's relatives. Now, this conclusion can only be drawn based on healthcare organization documents or CCTV footage.

Accidents occurring during rest and meal breaks or additional special breaks will now be classified as non-work-related, provided the victim was not exposed to a harmful or hazardous work factor.

Significant changes have been made to the procedure for determining gross negligence in the actions of a victim in an industrial accident. This is important because the degree of fault of the victim affects the amount of payments they receive under compulsory insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases. Firstly, it is clearly stated that in the event of the victim's death, their degree of fault is not determined. Secondly, the rules stipulate that if one of the causes of the accident was the victim's intoxication under alcohol (drugs, or toxic substances), their degree of fault is established at no less than 50%.

During special investigations of fatal accidents, group accidents, and accidents resulting in serious industrial injuries, various expert examinations are often ordered to determine the circumstances and causes of the incident. This requires considerable time, sometimes lasting months. Furthermore, until the special investigation is completed, the victim or the deceased's relatives cannot apply to Belgosstrakh for insurance payments under compulsory insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases. To improve the social protection of these individuals, amendments have been made to the rules. According to these amendments, upon request from Belgosstrakh, a state labor inspector will issue a preliminary accident report prior to the completion of a special investigation. This report will serve as the basis for awarding appropriate insurance payments to the victim or dependents of the deceased. Given the significant consequences of issuing such a preliminary accident report, the rules establish a procedure for appealing it by interested parties.

All of these changes to the rules will come into effect on March 1, 2026.