Reducing occupational accidents requires real efforts

In 2023, there were 93 occupational accidents (OAs) in Ninh Binh province. The loss of health and life of workers, regardless of the cause, has serious consequences and is a heartbreaking story for those left behind.

Mr. Phan Van Chuan, Phu Binh village, Khanh Phu commune, Yen Khanh district, used to be the head of the mechanical team of Changxin Company Limited (Khanh Phu Industrial Park). However, the work accident happened in 2023, forcing Mr. Chuan to take time off work for treatment for quite a long time. Currently, Mr. Chuan has recovered and has been accepted back to work by the Company, but due to the consequences of the work accident, Mr. Chuan has lost 34% of his labor capacity.

"I broke both legs after a work accident and it took a long time to recover. Currently, the company has accepted me back to work, but from the position of team leader, I was demoted to a worker because of poor health. Work accidents are a big risk, a nightmare for any worker. But if we try to avoid risks by taking risks, it is not enough. Workers must strictly follow safety regulations while working to protect their health and lives. Behind every worker is a family that needs to be taken care of," Mr. Chuan shared.

The colleague who had an accident with Mr. Chuan a year ago was not so lucky. Not far from Mr. Chuan's house is the rather spacious house of Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyen's family. This house is the result of the thrift and savings from the empty hands of Ms. Quyen and her husband, Mr. Pham Van Chinh - a worker at Changxin Company Limited. That house is admired by many people because of its warmth and happiness with 2 obedient and studious children. But now, that happy house has become cold because the pillar of the family, Mr. Chinh, died in an accident while working at Changxin Company Limited.

For nearly a year, Ms. Quyen has been holding back her pain, trying to become the only support for her children, but the absence of a father's love is always present in the sad eyes of family members. "Mr. Chinh's passing means that my family has lost the economic pillar of the whole family, the family's life is more difficult because the children are of school age, the oldest of whom is in university. But the material shortages can be overcome, the mother and children can try to overcome. But the emptiness of the absence of a husband and a father is a void that is not easy to fill" - Ms. Quyen said sadly.

Visiting, giving gifts, and sharing with workers and relatives of workers who met victims of the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health ( OSH) , a representative of Changxin Company Limited shared that the occupational accident in which Mr. Chuan and Mr. Chinh were victims was the first occupational accident since the Company started operating in 2012. After the heartbreaking incident, the Company actively coordinated and took good care of the workers and their relatives. Up to now, the Company has also accepted Mr. Chuan back to work and arranged work suitable to his health condition. However, according to the Company representative, the loss of health, spirit, and life of workers cannot be compensated. Therefore, ensuring occupational safety and health has been given more attention by the Company, aiming to not let any workers face risks during the working process. Immediately after the accident, the Company increased investment and created a safe working environment for employees.

Reducing occupational accidents requires real efforts — Representatives of the Provincial Steering Committee for the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Hygiene visited and encouraged families with relatives who had occupational accidents.

According to statistics from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2023, there were 93 occupational accidents in the province, including 8 fatal occupational accidents, killing 9 people. The report of the labor sector also pointed out that there are many causes of labor accidents, mainly due to employers and employees not having proper awareness of labor protection. Although it is included in mandatory regulations, in reality there are still businesses that have not invested adequately in labor protection.

The quality and effectiveness of inspection and supervision by officials are not high, and the direction of construction is not thorough; the organization and arrangement of the workplace is not guaranteed; propaganda, education and training on occupational safety and health are not really effective; all risks of occupational accidents that may occur have not been predicted and controlled in order to have timely and effective preventive measures... Meanwhile, although workers have been trained on occupational safety and health, due to subjective awareness, negligence, and chasing after product productivity, they also lead to occupational accidents... But for whatever reason, the greatest loss still belongs to the workers and their relatives.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, added: In the coming time, with the determination to minimize the number of occupational accidents, it requires the participation and positive response from many sides. In particular, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will focus on effectively implementing propaganda work to create a "permanent" and widespread awareness of occupational safety and health throughout society.

In particular, with the theme "Enhancing occupational safety and hygiene at the workplace and in the supply chain" , this year's Occupational Safety and Health Action Month emphasizes the importance of two issues: "building safe working procedures and measures" and "improving working conditions and reducing stress at the workplace". To better implement occupational safety and health work, the Steering Committee for Occupational Safety and Health Action Month will strengthen inspection and examination of the implementation of regulations and strictly handle violations at enterprises; strengthen activities to support units in inspecting and assessing occupational safety and health risks at the workplace...

During the 2024 Occupational Safety and Health Action Month, the Action Month Steering Committee will focus on inspecting 10 enterprises with potential risks of occupational safety. The purpose is that after inspections and checks, the interdisciplinary inspection teams will synthesize and evaluate to rectify and remind establishments and units with similar characteristics and fields of production and business to draw common experiences according to the topic.

The inspection and examination teams will require units to implement recommendations to further improve the work of ensuring occupational safety and hygiene in the units, focusing on a number of contents: fully implementing policies and regimes for workers; rectifying management and safety techniques... Thereby, the inspected and examined units will seriously implement the recommendations and report the results of the implementation of the recommendations to the agencies participating in the inspection and examination team. Along with propaganda and consultation measures, the Inspection Team will also resolutely handle violations that cause consequences to the health of workers.

Dao Hang - Minh Quang

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