Focus on Safety: The State Archives of the Mogilev Region is the First in the Belarusian Archival Industry to Receive STB ISO 45001-2020 Certification

The State Archives of the Mogilev Region has become the first archival institution in the Republic of Belarus to confirm compliance of its occupational health and safety management system with the strict requirements of the state standard STB ISO 45001-2020. This standard regulates occupational health and safety management systems for professional activities. This historic event for the archival industry elevates work with the region’s documentary heritage to a fundamentally new level, where the top priority is not only unique documents but also the people who preserve them.

The implementation and subsequent certification according to STB ISO 45001-2020 is the result of extensive and systematic work by the entire team. The State Archives of the Mogilev Region has acted as a pioneer, demonstrating that modern occupational safety standards are applicable and critically important for institutions and organizations in the Republic of Belarus.

Archival work is a unique profession: it requires strict climate control, the preservation of paper media, and the use of specialized equipment in archival repositories. In such circumstances, creating a healthy and safe environment requires a detailed approach to assessing any professional risks.

Receiving a document is not simply a formal recognition of merit, but a functioning mechanism aimed at minimizing risks, improving working conditions, preventing illness, and enhancing the organization’s prestige.

Successful completion of the audit confirms the modern management philosophy: the most valuable asset of any organization is its employees. Caring for their health directly impacts the quality and efficiency of archival document management, as well as the speed of service to researchers and the public requesting archival information.

Pictured: Certificate of Conformity to STB ISO 45001-2020, received by the State Archives of the Mogilev Region.