On October 12, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading the important bill No. 10147 'On the Safety and Health of Workers at Work'. This document marks a fundamental revision of state policy in the field of occupational health and safety, moving away from outdated approaches. The new rules are designed to implement modern European standards and protect the rights of workers at every workplace.

As Olena Shuliak, head of the Verkhovna Rada committee, noted, for decades the Ukrainian occupational safety system was built on reacting to emergencies that had already occurred. The state imposed fines for violating formal, often outdated regulations without assessing the real situation. Now, the emphasis is shifting to preventive measures and the employer's responsibility for the final result — the effective protection of the life and health of subordinates.

Essence of the Reform and New Business Obligations

The adopted law introduces an advanced risk-oriented approach to labor organization. Enterprises are required to regularly conduct risk assessments at workplaces, eliminate sources of danger at early stages, and adapt working conditions to a specific employee. At the same time, the priority of collective safety measures over individual ones is legally enshrined, which increases the overall level of protection in production.

In addition, the document introduces completely new concepts for Ukrainian practice and strengthens the procedures for investigating occupational diseases and accidents. Along with the usual administrative and criminal liability, property liability is introduced: by court decision, the employer will be obliged to compensate the Social Insurance Fund for expenses on payments to injured workers if inadequate safety measures caused the injury.

Controversial Data

Discussions arose in the expert community and among business representatives regarding the speed of adaptation to the new requirements. Some business associations express fears that strict property sanctions and mandatory liability insurance for occupational safety assessment organizations could create an additional financial burden. At the same time, specialized ministries and trade unions insist that European integration and people's safety come first, and the new norms reduce the bureaucratic load by eliminating outdated formal instructions.

Compliance with EU Standards and Protection of Vulnerable Groups

The bill directly implements Council Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, which determines labor safety standards in all European Union countries. The document also brings the Ukrainian labor inspection system into compliance with International Labour Organization Conventions No. 81 and No. 129. According to the authors of the initiative, this is a real transformation of the domestic labor market.

Special attention in the document is paid to the protection of vulnerable categories of workers, such as youth, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities. The new rules create transparent and safe conditions for all market participants, promote fair competition, and provide Ukrainian enterprises with unhindered access to international sales markets.