117 people were killed in industrial accidents in 2000, Krassimir Totkov, Executive Director of the Chief Labour Inspectorate, announced on Monday. By comparison, 123 were killed in 1997, 104 in 1998, and 89 in 1999. Further, 6 497 people sustained industrial injuries in 2000 (11 169 in 1997, 10 300 in 1998, and 6 492 in 1999). Last year 310 inspectors checked 27 986 enterprises with a workforce of 1 200 535. This is the account of 5.7% of the companies subject to inspection, but their employees form 56.7% of the total. 60% of the enterprises were inspected for the first time. The inspectors reported 131 121 violations of labour laws, of which 30% were in employer-employee relations, 23% were of violations of the health and safety rules, and 11% of industrial hygiene. The inspectors ordered 1 525 machines stopped, 123 jobs closed, and 57 workshops, six production lines, 99 self-contained units and 12 enterprises closed down on the grounds that they were a threat to the workers` health and safety. Overall, 3 763 statements of violation were dawn up and 3 551 penalty decrees issued.

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