Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Recognising the importance of workplace safety, more andmore businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have begun to invest in modern equipmentand increased budgets for labour safety programmes.
Dai DungMetallic Manufacture Construction and Trade Company Limited is such an example.
Although anormal working day at the factory starts at 7:30, workers are requestedto be present 20 minutes in advance to change clothes, put on the rightsafety equipment and do morning exercises before entering the constructionsite. At the entrance gate, staff from the security force and the Labour SafetyDivision check whether the workers have the proper entry and exit cardsfor each area – cards that certify they have completed the necessaryoccupational safety training courses.
Nguyen Van Hung,Chairman of the Dai Dung Company’s Trade Union, said workers' compliancewith labour safety regulations and the tight supervision of the LabourSafety Division had helped the company achieve millions of safeworking hours, raising the company's efficiency and prestige among its foreignand domestic partners.
The HCM CityExport Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) has also adoptedmeasures to ensure labour safety and prevent workplace fires.
According toHuynh Van Tuan, head of the HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zones, anumber of enterprises have been equipped with modern technology and havepurchased equipment to meet regional and international safety standards.HEPZA has also co-ordinated with fire-fighting forces to organise trainingto improve knowledge of safe workplace practices among workers.On-site inspections have also been increased, particularly in areas withhigh risk.
Nguyen QuocViet, head of the Employment and Labour Safety Division under HCM City’s Departmentof Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said far fewer accidents would happenif employers and workers complied with labour safety rules and safety equipmentwas regularly maintained.
“In anycircumstance, being cautious and ensuring labour safety is always the bestsolution and should be prioritised in the manufacturing process,” he said.
Challenges
Over thelast few years, HCM City has had more work-related accidents than anywhere elsein Vietnam.
More than1,200 accidents were reported in the city last year with a total of 1,300casualties, including 101 deaths.
Statisticsfrom the HCM City Institute of Science of Occupational Safety and Health showedthat work-related accidents were most common in the field of construction,followed by industrial manufacturing, trade, service and education.
Occupationalaccidents often happened on civil construction projects or in the courseof construction carried out by private contractors that are not qualified andfail to comply with safety and hygiene regulations.
On November22 last year, in a common type of workplace accident, one person waskilled and another injured when scaffolding collapsed at a buildingunder construction in HCM City’s District 1. Two days earlier, 25 students froma primary school in Binh Chanh district were injured in similar collapse.
Huynh KimHoang, Deputy Director of the HCM City Institute of Science of OccupationalSafety and Health, said employers were to blame for 61.7 per cent ofworkplace accidents. In many cases, employers failed to set up labour safetypractices or did not provide workers with adequate training or safetyequipment, he said.
Labourerswere also to blame for a small number of the accidents – just for 8.8 percent, Hoang said. In these cases, the workers had violated labour safetyprocedures or failed to use the provided protective equipment.
A number ofaccidents occurred due to stress from work, poor worker health or a failure topay attention, he said.
Solutions
To reducethe number of work-related accidents, Hoang said it was necessary to takea number of steps including improving working conditions and clarifying theresponsibilities of workers and employers.
"Ensuring safeworking environments is crucial in preventing accidents and enhancingbusinesses' competitiveness," he said.
Nguyen ThanhLam, Chairman of Trade Union of Tico Joint Stock Company in Tan Phu district,said it was important for workers to comply with rules regulating the use ofprotecting equipment. They must understand that the safety equipment is thereto protect them and their colleagues. In addition, employers must providethe proper equipment for each task.
Enterprisesshould increase supervision of labourers through camera systems and providemore training in labour safety, fire prevention and fire fighting, hesaid.
Kieu Ngoc Vu,Vice Chairman of the HCM City Trade Union, said employers, trade unions andemployees should identify potential risks in workplaces.
Enterprisesshould be supported to establish safety procedures and their complianceshould be monitored with spot checks, he said.
“Laboursafety and hygiene are not only slogans and banners for the actionmonth, but need to be deployed regularly, in each field and industry with practicaland effective actions,” Vu said.
“Laboursafety must come from the awareness of employers, trade unions and workersand units should work with them to prevent work-relatedaccidents," he said.-VNS/VNA
Dai DungMetallic Manufacture Construction and Trade Company Limited is such an example.
Although anormal working day at the factory starts at 7:30, workers are requestedto be present 20 minutes in advance to change clothes, put on the rightsafety equipment and do morning exercises before entering the constructionsite. At the entrance gate, staff from the security force and the Labour SafetyDivision check whether the workers have the proper entry and exit cardsfor each area – cards that certify they have completed the necessaryoccupational safety training courses.
Nguyen Van Hung,Chairman of the Dai Dung Company’s Trade Union, said workers' compliancewith labour safety regulations and the tight supervision of the LabourSafety Division had helped the company achieve millions of safeworking hours, raising the company's efficiency and prestige among its foreignand domestic partners.
The HCM CityExport Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) has also adoptedmeasures to ensure labour safety and prevent workplace fires.
According toHuynh Van Tuan, head of the HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zones, anumber of enterprises have been equipped with modern technology and havepurchased equipment to meet regional and international safety standards.HEPZA has also co-ordinated with fire-fighting forces to organise trainingto improve knowledge of safe workplace practices among workers.On-site inspections have also been increased, particularly in areas withhigh risk.
Nguyen QuocViet, head of the Employment and Labour Safety Division under HCM City’s Departmentof Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said far fewer accidents would happenif employers and workers complied with labour safety rules and safety equipmentwas regularly maintained.
“In anycircumstance, being cautious and ensuring labour safety is always the bestsolution and should be prioritised in the manufacturing process,” he said.
Challenges
Over thelast few years, HCM City has had more work-related accidents than anywhere elsein Vietnam.
More than1,200 accidents were reported in the city last year with a total of 1,300casualties, including 101 deaths.
Statisticsfrom the HCM City Institute of Science of Occupational Safety and Health showedthat work-related accidents were most common in the field of construction,followed by industrial manufacturing, trade, service and education.
Occupationalaccidents often happened on civil construction projects or in the courseof construction carried out by private contractors that are not qualified andfail to comply with safety and hygiene regulations.
On November22 last year, in a common type of workplace accident, one person waskilled and another injured when scaffolding collapsed at a buildingunder construction in HCM City’s District 1. Two days earlier, 25 students froma primary school in Binh Chanh district were injured in similar collapse.
Huynh KimHoang, Deputy Director of the HCM City Institute of Science of OccupationalSafety and Health, said employers were to blame for 61.7 per cent ofworkplace accidents. In many cases, employers failed to set up labour safetypractices or did not provide workers with adequate training or safetyequipment, he said.
Labourerswere also to blame for a small number of the accidents – just for 8.8 percent, Hoang said. In these cases, the workers had violated labour safetyprocedures or failed to use the provided protective equipment.
A number ofaccidents occurred due to stress from work, poor worker health or a failure topay attention, he said.
Solutions
To reducethe number of work-related accidents, Hoang said it was necessary to takea number of steps including improving working conditions and clarifying theresponsibilities of workers and employers.
"Ensuring safeworking environments is crucial in preventing accidents and enhancingbusinesses' competitiveness," he said.
Nguyen ThanhLam, Chairman of Trade Union of Tico Joint Stock Company in Tan Phu district,said it was important for workers to comply with rules regulating the use ofprotecting equipment. They must understand that the safety equipment is thereto protect them and their colleagues. In addition, employers must providethe proper equipment for each task.
Enterprisesshould increase supervision of labourers through camera systems and providemore training in labour safety, fire prevention and fire fighting, hesaid.
Kieu Ngoc Vu,Vice Chairman of the HCM City Trade Union, said employers, trade unions andemployees should identify potential risks in workplaces.
Enterprisesshould be supported to establish safety procedures and their complianceshould be monitored with spot checks, he said.
“Laboursafety and hygiene are not only slogans and banners for the actionmonth, but need to be deployed regularly, in each field and industry with practicaland effective actions,” Vu said.
“Laboursafety must come from the awareness of employers, trade unions and workersand units should work with them to prevent work-relatedaccidents," he said.-VNS/VNA
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