Kazakhstan commission finds Aqtogai Milk fully liable for six worker deaths

September 2, 2026 at 11:03 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A government commission found Aqtogai Milk LLP fully liable for the deaths of six workers in a sewer well in Pavlodar region. The workers were not trained in high-risk work safety and lacked personal protective equipment. The incident occurred in late July in Zholaman village.

Key Facts

The government commission set the employer's degree of fault at 100 percent.
Six workers died from hydrogen sulfide exposure in a sewer well at Aqtogai Milk LLP in Pavlodar region.
The workers had not received proper training in safe methods for high-risk work and were not provided with necessary personal protective equipment.
The incident occurred on July 20 at the enterprise's territory in Zholaman village.
A pre-trial investigation was launched under Article 156, Part 4 of the Criminal Code, which carries up to seven years of imprisonment.

Investigation Findings

The special investigation established that one worker was exposed to hydrogen sulfide while working in a sewer well. Other workers descended into the well one after another in attempts to rescue their colleagues. All six workers died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning while trying to help each other. The commission found that the workers had not been properly trained in safe methods for high-risk work. They were also not provided with the necessary personal protective equipment.

Safety Violations

The organization of work in the sewer well did not ensure the required level of safety. This included the absence of adequate procedures for emergency situations and rescue operations. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection called on employers in Pavlodar region and other regions to pay special attention to safe organization of high-risk work. The ministry emphasized the need to provide workers with personal protective equipment and proper training for emergency response and rescue operations.

Legal Consequences

The commission identified responsible officials and prepared recommendations to eliminate the violations and prevent similar incidents. A pre-trial investigation was launched under Article 156, Part 4 of the Criminal Code for violation of labor protection rules resulting in the death of two or more persons. The article provides for up to seven years of restriction or imprisonment with a ban on holding certain positions for up to four years.