Ensure a safe working environment

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• Focus on OSH training

According to Trade Union officials, in order for employees to work well, prevent occupational accidents and occupational diseases, along with functional agencies, businesses, production and business units, it is necessary to focus on implementing OSH training; improve working conditions, health care for employees. The safety and hygiene network must be arranged in working parts. This force is constantly trained and fostered knowledge and skills on OSH and is responsible for propagating, inspecting and reminding employees to strictly abide by OSH regulations such as labor protection, operating machinery and equipment in accordance with the process.

Ms. Do Thi Thuy Kieu, in charge of occupational safety and health at Advanced International Multitech (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd. (Nhon Trach District), said that the company always focuses on training OSH twice a year for all employees, and quarterly evaluating this work once. Leaders of this enterprise often require employees to check safety and hygiene at the direct production site daily, must wear labor protection before work, and at the same time make a logbook to monitor OSH of each employee. Particularly for employees in the department with strict requirements on labor safety, businesses are always equipped with knowledge about prevention and rescue measures if incidents occur. As a result, employees are aware of good observance of OSH rules, accompany with the enterprise to implement an effective working environment.

Mr. Cao Duy Thai, Head of Labor, Wages and Social Insurance  - Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated that the consequences of occupational accidents can be mild, or quite heavy, not only physically and economically but also mentally. The cause of occupational accidents mainly comes from subjectivity, disregard for OSH during working process, leading to unsafe working environment. The focus of enterprises on OSH training will help employees be able to actively identify potential dangers while working, thereby offering measures to prevent occupational accident incidents. In addition, a safe working environment will help business operations become more professional, reduce costs for human and machine incidents and increase labor productivity and working efficiency.

• Focus on prevention

Mr. Tran Van Thang, from Ca Mau, has worked as a mason for construction works for 4 years in the province said that due to the nature of the work that he often works on large projects, he rarely receives any OSH training from the construction units. Besides, the labor protection equipment is not focused, tools such as hats, hats, shoes he must equip themselves to protect his health. Besides, there is no concern about labor protection equipment; working tools such as hats, shoes are all self-equipped to protect his health.

“I think all the construction units, when they have accepted employees, should have OSH training sessions directly at the construction site; at the same time, there must be specific instructions on manipulations, machines and dangerous warnings during the working process to ensure a good working environment. In fact, at present, all employees working at the project are self-employed, not being to sign labor contracts and are not entitled to the regimes and policies, so when an incident occurs, this will be a huge loss. For each worker, they should improve their sense of protection, should not be subjective, disregard their lives”- Mr. Thang expressed.

In fact, over the past time, at the construction works, the implementation of OSH supervision and training for workers remains indifferent or coping. Meanwhile, what employees want is that business owners and construction units pay attention to the health and life of employees, because when the heartbreaking occupational accidents occur, it is too late to find a solution.

During the recent inspection of OSH of interdisciplinary inspection team led by the Department of Construction at construction sites, the delegation also asked construction units to enhance OSH at the construction site, regularly train and remind employees to raise their awareness of compliance with internal rules and regulations in labor safety, labor protection equipment at the construction site,  especially at the wall with the height, minimize the labor accidents that occur at the site.

Pham Xuan Lanh, a specialist of the Thong Nhat Project Management Board (Thong Nhat District), said that from the collapse of a fence in Giang Dien Industrial Park, 10 died and 14 injured, all construction units should equip necessary knowledge and skills so that their employees can actively prevent occupational accidents and understand potential dangerous situations that may lead to occupational accidents at any time. Thereby, the employee will forecast risks and take measures to prevent accidents during the working process.

The Thong Nhat Project Management Board has proposed the construction unit to closely monitor the working process, provide labor protection equipment for employees, especially in works with large walls, high-rise buildings.

By Phong Lan