Some key solutions to ensure occupational safety and hygiene in Vietnam in the last six months of 2024

Some key solutions to ensure occupational safety and hygiene in Vietnam in the last six months of 2024 

Based on the situation and causes of occupational accidents in the first 6 months of 2024, to proactively prevent and minimize occupational accidents in the coming period, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam requests ministries, central authorities, local authorities, enterprises, organizations, employers, and workers to focus on implementing the following key contents:

- Ministries and central authorities should direct enterprises under their industries and fields of management to proactively inspect occupational safety and hygiene work; cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam to inspect and examine enterprises operating in fields with high risks of occupational accidents and serious incidents such as construction, manufacturing of building materials, minerals, management of machinery and equipment with stringent safety requirements, especially key construction projects adjacent to residential areas with heavy foot traffic, lifting equipment, elevators, etc.

- The Ministry of Health of Vietnam should enhance the guidance and urge the statistical reporting of occupational accidents at medical examination and treatment facilities as per Clause 4, Article 36 of the Law on Occupational Safety and Health and Article 25 of Decree 39/2016/ND-CP dated May 15, 2016 of the Government of Vietnam, and send the compiled information to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam accordingly.

- The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities should direct local functional agencies to:

+ Enhance inspections and checks on the compliance with occupational safety and hygiene regulations by local enterprises, particularly in fields with high risks of occupational accidents and serious incidents. Pay attention to the development of safe working procedures and methods at enterprises; report occupational accidents as per the Law on Occupational Safety and Health;

+ Enhance the organization of propaganda and dissemination of knowledge and laws on occupational safety and health suitable for each field and industry, prioritizing the propagation and dissemination of laws on occupational safety and health to non-contract workers;

+ Enhance the investigation of occupational accidents involving non-contract workers;

+ Enhance efforts to prevent occupational accidents with support from the social insurance fund for occupational accidents and occupational diseases and report back to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam;

+ Organize and guide district and commune-level People's Committees in statistics, reporting of occupational accidents involving non-contract workers; and record occupational accidents involving non-contract workers.

- Enterprises should enhance occupational safety and hygiene activities, focusing on self-inspection activities, actively controlling and preventing dangerous and harmful factors at the enterprise, and preventing occupational accidents due to the use of equipment with stringent safety requirements, falling from heights, electric shocks, and falling objects. Organize occupational safety and hygiene training sessions, and issue professional certificates for workers as required.

- The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance should propagate and encourage employers to pay attention to the development of internal regulations, procedures, and measures to ensure occupational safety and hygiene, and improve working conditions in the workplace. Organize the propagation and dissemination of the Law on Occupational Safety and Health to their members.

- The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, and professional associations should enhance propaganda and encourage workers and members to comply with safe working procedures and use personal protective equipment in labor to minimize occupational accidents, ensuring safety, health, and life for workers.

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