Standards for personal protective equipment in construction in Vietnam

Standards for personal protective equipment in construction in Vietnam

According to subsection 2.19, section 2, of the National Technical Regulation on Safety in Construction promulgated with Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD, general regulations on the standards of personal protective equipment in construction in Vietnam are as follows:

- In workplaces with harmful or dangerous factors or working under adverse conditions, the employer must adequately equip workers with personal protective equipment, including clothes, shoes, boots, helmets, gloves, and other necessary tools and devices suitable for the type of work, types of risks as stipulated by occupational safety and hygiene laws and guidelines from authorized agencies.

NOTE 1: Specific regulations on personal protective equipment suitable for various types of work are outlined in the respective sections of this regulation.

NOTE 2: Circular 04/2014/TT-BLDTBXH dated February 12, 2014, of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs of Vietnam guides the implementation of policies on providing personal protective equipment.

- The selected personal protective equipment must consider ergonomic principles, comply with product quality laws, goods requirements, relevant QCVN, and related organizations.

NOTE: Specific requirements for types of personal protective equipment are outlined in the QCVNs, including: QCVN 06:2012/BLDTBXH (on Industrial Safety Helmets), QCVN 08:2012/BLDTBXH (on Respiratory Protection Devices - Dust Filters), QCVN 10:2012/BLDTBXH (on Filters used in Respirators and Half-Mask Respirators), QCVN 15:2013/BLDTBXH (on Insulating Shoes or Boots), QCVN 24:2014/BLDTBXH (on Insulating Gloves), QCVN 27:2016/BLDTBXH (on Personal Eye Protection used in welding), QCVN 28:2016/BLDTBXH (on Auto-Darkening Filters used in Welding Helmets), QCVN 36:2019/BLDTBXH (on personal protective equipment - Safety Shoes), QCVN 37:2019/BLDTBXH (on Protective Clothing against Heat and Fire) and other related QCVNs.

Obligations of Workers and Employers During Construction in Vietnam:

According to subsection 2.19, section 2, of the National Technical Regulation on Safety in Construction promulgated with Circular 16/2021/TT-BXD, the responsibilities of workers and employers are as follows:

- The employer must:

+ Provide workers with appropriate instructions (e.g., pamphlets) and guidance to properly use and maintain personal protective equipment;

+ Inspect and supervise workers to ensure they are using personal protective equipment correctly;

+ Appoint a manager who thoroughly understands the nature of harmful factors, dangerous factors, the range, and capabilities of each type of personal protective equipment. The manager of personal protective equipment is responsible for:

Selecting and handing over suitable personal protective equipment to workers meeting safety and health requirements according to the tasks they must perform (even when exposed to adverse conditions);

Properly arranging for personal protective equipment to be stored, maintained, and cleaned correctly;

Performing periodic decontamination, sterilization, disinfection, radiation cleansing (if necessary), especially for personal protective equipment used in highly infectious, toxic, or radioactive areas.

- The worker is responsible for:

+ Properly using and maintaining the personal protective equipment provided; if it is lost, damaged, expired, or unsuitable for their body, they must promptly report it to the personal protective equipment manager or the employer to be replaced.

In cases where workers must work alone on-site, in confined spaces, or in hard-to-reach locations, the employer must provide appropriate and well-maintained warning devices for use in emergencies.

Nhut Hao

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