For the health of workers

​Being taken care of the health, the employees will work with peace of mind and continue to contribute to the enterprise.

A worker of Pousung Vietnam Co., Ltd, Trang Bom District is given a health check before working

* Actively to take care of employees' health

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Sang, Head of the Department of Occupational Diseases – Dong Nai Center for Disease Control (CDC), currently most businesses have complied with regulations on health check, examination and detection of occupational diseases for their workers. In addition to the Dong Nai CDC, there are 9 other medical facilities in the province that are allowed to examine and treat occupational diseases. Every year, businesses actively contract with these medical facilities to take care of their employees' health.

In the past 2 years, the Covid-19 epidemic has been complicated, and medical examination and occupational disease activities have slowed down. Particularly at CDC Dong Nai, this work is almost completely stopped to focus on epidemic prevention and control. Up to now, this activity has started to be active again. In the first 6 months of this year, 32 enterprises organized occupational health examination before arranging jobs for nearly 15,000 workers, 20 enterprises organized periodical health check-ups for more than 14,500 workers, 17 enterprises coordinate in organizing training on prevention of occupational diseases for more than 750 workers.

Periodic health check for employees in the post-Covid-19 period is very important and necessary. Accordingly, employees will have chest x-ray, blood test, pulmonary ventilation function measurement, internal examination, general examination (eyes, ears, nose, throat, teeth, jaw, face, blood pressure, etc.). For people who have had Covid-19, these tests can help detect abnormalities, and are recommended for in-depth examination for timely treatment and prevention of complications.

The health of workers in the post-Covid-19 period is an issue that is receiving much attention from functional sectors and businesses. According to the recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO), in addition to physical health, employees also need to be concerned about mental health. This can also be an indicator to measure the health of workers.

Ms. Nguyen Kieu Nga, Head of Human Resources Department of Ofi Vietnam Company - Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Zone shared, every year, in addition to organizing periodic health checks for workers, general examination to detect occupational disease risks. According to the law, the company also has many other health care activities for employees. For example, the company cooperates with a specialized unit to organize the counseling and health care programs for employees; create Zalo chatting groups, including connecting with specialist doctors to answer and direct employees on health-related issues, etc. “This year, the company is planning to implement the Healthy Food for Healthy Life Program, in which the experts will provide the employees with the knowledge about nutrition, encourage employees to practice exercise and sports to improve health and prevent disease” Ms. Nga added.

Workers in the hearing tested when they go for an occupational disease examination at the Provincial Center for Disease Control

* Being glad because of having the health check-up

Mr. Pham Van Do has worked as an operator at Southern Gas Trading Joint Stock Company, Dong Nai Branch for 8 years. Because he works in a hazardous environment, he has a periodical medical examination for occupational diseases once a year. Having regular check-ups and receiving good results about his health status for many years gives him peace of mind even though he works in an environment with many risks.

Following her husband from Binh Duong to Dong Nai to live, Ms. Le Thi Thuy decided to work at Pousung Vietnam Co., Ltd located in Trang Bom District. Immediately after being recruited, the company arranged a car to take Ms. Thuy and the new workers to have the health check-ups at facility 2 of the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC). After the health examination, Ms. Thuy and her colleagues will have lessons on occupational safety and hygiene before going to work officially on July 1. Ms. Thuy said that getting a medical check-up before being assigned the job made her feel happier.

Health check-ups before getting the jobs, periodical health examination or occupational disease examination are compulsory activities, regulated in the Law on Occupational Safety and Health. According to regulations, employees who do normal work are entitled to a periodical medical check-up once a year. People who handle heavy, dangerous jobs with hazardous factors, in addition to periodic health check, are also examined for occupational diseases at least once a year.

Periodical health check and occupational disease examination help early detection and timely treatment, both to improve the health of employees and preserve "precious capital" for businesses. Some of the main occupational diseases that employees often suffer are: deafness caused by noise, chronic occupational bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, cataracts, etc. Whoever get sick will be set up the record for monitoring, treatment and given the reasonable job.

Dr. Sang said: “Based on the health results of employees and the results of working environment monitoring, we also make suggestions and recommendations for businesses to improve the working environment and arrange suitable jobs based on the health status of workers".

For example, to prevent eye diseases, the center recommends that enterprises take measures to create qualified light sources at production locations in factories. The Center also regularly recommends enterprises to do better in maintaining machinery before operating in order to reduce noise intensity; arrange machinery, arrange tools reasonably; fully equipped with personal labor protection and comply with occupational hygiene standards (earplugs, earmuffs, protective clothing, masks, and glasses, etc.).

Along with that, enterprises also periodically organize training in first aid and prevention of occupational diseases with the direct guidance of medical staff and doctors of medical clinics.

Hoang Giang