OCCUPATIONAL RISKS IN LABOUR LAW: KAZAKHSTAN’S LEGAL PRACTICE AND PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT Abstract

The purpose of the article is to consider production risks as an independent and significant object of legal regulation in the context of the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The topic is relevant due to the need for a legal transformation in approaches to ensuring safe working conditions, especially at high-risk enterprises where traditional safety measures often prove inadequate. Understanding occupational risks requires more than technical or organizational analysis—it demands a comprehensive legal perspective, including clear regulatory criteria, standardized assessment procedures, effective risk management systems, and mechanisms of legal accountability. The article presents a critical review of current laws and regulations governing occupational risk management, identifying legal gaps, inconsistencies, and institutional obstacles that hinder the effective implementation of risk- based approaches. It is found that the lack of a unified certification methodology, fragmented legal norms, and poorly defined oversight functions weaken the legal impact and limit preventive measures. The author argues for a unified and sustainable legal framework for regulating occupational risks, grounded in the principles of prevention, legal clarity, non-discrimination, fairness, and proportionality. Legislative improvements are proposed, including the adoption of a dedicated legal act on risk-based labor protection, enhancement of state supervision, modernization of inspection procedures, and clearer employer liability. Emphasis is also placed on strengthening labor inspectorates, improving legal literacy, and fostering collaboration between the state, employers, and workers to better prevent occupational risks and uphold labor rights.