On April 28, marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work and the International Workers’ Memorial Day, the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK) emphasizes that occupational safety in Lithuania is still too often treated as a formality rather than a fundamental employer responsibility and a prerequisite for safe work.

Every workplace accident is not just a statistic—it is a person’s life. Today, we must clearly state that safety at work cannot be sidelined or reduced to formal documentation; it must become a real priority in every workplace.

Alarming figures

The latest data show that the situation remains challenging. In 2025, there were 18 fatal workplace accidents (excluding road traffic incidents), and 122 workers suffered serious injuries. In the first quarter of 2026, 3 fatal cases were recorded, while the number of serious accidents remains high, with 34 reports already received.

The most dangerous sectors continue to be construction, manufacturing, transport, warehousing, water supply, and waste management. The main causes of accidents remain unchanged: poor work organization, weak supervision, insufficient risk assessment, and disregard for safety rules.

A formal approach and a culture of fear

LPSK points out that one of the biggest problems is the formal approach to occupational safety. While documents are prepared and briefings are conducted, real practices often fail to meet requirements.

Moreover, workers still fear speaking up about unsafe conditions, worrying they will be seen as “disloyal.” Such a climate creates the conditions for accidents that could otherwise be prevented.

Workers must have both the right and the real possibility to say “no” to unsafe work. This is not disloyalty—it is responsibility for their own and their colleagues’ lives.

It is also important to remember that we are responsible for one another at the workplace, and that a colleague’s unsafe situation is a problem for all of us and for the entire company.

OSH committees – untapped potential

According to the Confederation, one of the most important practical tools for ensuring safety is workplace Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) committees. However, their activities often remain purely formal.

Where active committees exist, strong social dialogue takes place, and collective agreements are in place, accidents decrease. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the role of employee representatives, including trade unions, in decision-making.

What is needed for change?

LPSK calls for systemic action:

• strengthening safety culture across all companies and organizations;
• empowering workers to actively participate in decision-making;
• ensuring real, not merely formal, safety control;
• addressing overwork and work organization issues;
• expanding collective agreements to establish higher safety standards.

Safe work is not an obstacle to productivity—it is its foundation. Only through genuine dialogue, shared responsibility, and worker involvement can we ensure that workplace accidents become the exception rather than a recurring reality.