Labor Safety and Sanitation: Numbers of Enterprises do not Strictly Assure

Labor Safety and Sanitation is ensured in Vikyno Company.

    In five years (between 2003 and 2008) there are 1,900 labor accidents hurting 1,904 people in which 135 cases cause 139 deaths, 1,765 others cause 1,765 injuries with labor disability, making great effects on victims’ life.

    The labor accident analyses unveil that private businesses make up 31.9%, state-owned businesses run by central government 7.9%, state-owned ones administered by local authorities 12.5%, non-state owned ones (including joint venture,  joint-stock, limited liability  businesses) 47.7%. In terms causes, the analyses show that fatal accidents rate as follows: falling from high position down 29,6%; power shock 21.6%; collapses 11.4%, being weighed down or hit by objects, being ground 15.9%; being scrolled and kipped 7.9%; and others 13.6%.

    According to statistical from the provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2008, preliminary survey on 24 labor accidents and one explosion of uncovered that 10 out of those caused deaths. By means of 51 investigations on implementation of labor safety and sanitation in Labor Code implemented by 8 enterprises, where the accidents happened, one has violated regulations on fire and explosion.

    Also via the investigations, wide range of businesses have not gasped thoroughly and strictly carried on regulations stated in Joint Circular no. 14/1998/TTLT-BLDTBXH-BYT-TLDLDVN dated on October 31, 1998 by Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Heath Ministry and General Vietnam Labor Association, there have been full assistants to help executive managers to ensure labor safety, wrongdoings mainly result from no labor safety plan, no working environment check, no verification and register on instruments requiring highly strict safety and sanitation in use, no training on labor safety and sanitation for employees or insufficient training contents and so forth. However, it can be counted the awareness of the laborers themselves. The investigation delegations suggested 1,300 petitions asking the relevant bodies to surmount their wrongdoings.

Labor accident precautions in highly risky workplaces

    To ensure labor safety and sanitation, the provincial investigations are frequently held in various enterprises. Besides, every year 4 supplementary training courses for relavent bodies, employers and employees are held by Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs with 321 participants. By means of annual week for labor safety and sanitation and fire control, the functional bodies have analyzed in details causes of severe labor accidents and proposed certain solutions to better employee protection. In fact, in addition to recommendations on achieving labor safety and sanitation, fine sanctions on the businesses with labor accidents should be strong and deterrent enough.

L.H (Phuong Thuy)