Kazakhstan to launch unannounced safety inspections at Astana construction sites

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Kazakhstan's Ministry of Labor will conduct unannounced safety inspections at Astana construction sites after two tower crane collapses killed two workers and injured two others. The State Labor Inspectorate Committee has been ordered to initiate the checks, with violations referred to authorities for action. Companies with repeated safety failures may face license suspension or revocation.
Key Facts
- Two tower crane collapses in Astana killed two workers and left two others with serious injuries.
- The State Labor Inspectorate Committee has been ordered to initiate unannounced inspections of construction sites in Astana.
- First Vice Minister of Labor Yerbol Tuyakbayev said companies that systematically violate safety rules may face suspension or revocation of construction licenses.
- Inspectors will specifically review organizations with repeated accidents to verify whether previously identified violations were fully addressed.
Crane Collapses
Two tower cranes collapsed in Astana, resulting in the deaths of two workers and serious injuries to two others. Special investigations are underway for each incident, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. The ministry stated that safety issues at construction sites had been raised repeatedly with industry representatives.
Inspection Mandate
The State Labor Inspectorate Committee has been tasked with initiating unannounced inspections of construction sites in Astana. If violations are found, materials will be sent to competent state bodies for action under the law. Inspectors will focus on organizations where accidents and violations recur, checking whether previously identified causes were fully eliminated. First Vice Minister Yerbol Tuyakbayev said a repeated accident signals a systemic problem within the company.
Accountability Measures
Tuyakbayev warned that companies systematically violating safety requirements may face stricter measures, including suspension or revocation of construction licenses. He stressed that responsibility for safety on a construction site lies primarily with the head of the organization. The vice minister said a construction company director must know not only project readiness and financial indicators, but also the risks on site and what is done to ensure every worker returns home alive and healthy.