Highlighted events on Occupational Safety and Health in 2017 in Vietnam
1. The launching ceremony of the first action month on occupational safety and health in 2017 in Hanoi
In the morning 18th May, 2017, at Viet Xo friendship cultural palace (Hanoi), the steering committee for OSH action month in co-operation with People Committee of Hanoi held the Launching Ceremony of the First action month on occupational safety and health in 2017 with the title: “Promotion of training for occupational safety and health to prevent work-related accidents and diseases”.
AT the ceremony, Minister of Ministry of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs Mr. Dao Ngoc Dung required all levels of authority, agencies, enterprises and employees mobilize resources to raise the quality of OSH training, enhance quality of trainers and apply high tech in OSH training and delivering information. At the same time, organizing activities to respond to the First OSH action month and associated with activities of Workers’ Month and towards to Enterprise and employees.
2. The National OSH Council held the First National OSH dialog.
With the aims at sharing information and accomplishment of OSH policies and regulation as well as promoting improvement of working condition, on 15th December, 2017 the first National OSH dialog was held in Hanoi in order to change challenges, difficulties during implementation of OSH policies and legislation. Participated in the dialog there were more than 150 people who are representatives from ministries, industrial branches at Central and local levels, representatives for employers, employees, enterprises and associations domestics and overseas. After a while of preparation and gathering dialog opinions throughout country, the council received 50 feedback from agencies, enterprises and personals with more than 157 questions, suggestions and proposals divided into 57 issues and 8 grouped contents.
The opinions of representatives to the dialog are the basis for the National OSH Council to consult Government and the National Assembly in order to issue policies and regulations appropriated with situation to accomplish OSH legislation system. Besides, assisting to adjust present regulation and set up new ones for the subjects related with OSH of each occupation or job.
3. The first time to have statistics of work-related accidents in the non-labor contracted zone.
According to the reports from 62/63 provinces/cities, in 2017 there were 8,956 work-related incidents causing 9,173 victims (including labor contracted and non-contracted zones).
It is the first time, after OSH law was launched and valid from the 1st July, 2017 Vietnam has statistics of work-related accidents in non-contracted zone. However, the investigation of work-related accidents conducted in non-contracted zone is not really comprehensive that ise required by law. The minutes of accidents for non-contracted employees set up by People Committee of commune level are still limited.
4. Ministry of Health prepared “Action plan for elimination of asbestos-related diseases”.
On 12th June, 2017 in Hanoi the Health environment management Agency (Ministry of Health), Australian government and Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad ( APHEDA) held the seminar “ to prepare action plan to eliminate asbestos-related disease”.
In the world, now there are about 125 million people exposed to asbestos at workplaces. Asbestos has been used to produce thousand of products with large quantity such as roof sheets, duct for water, fire resist blanket, heat resist material, brake pads, gaskets ect. In Vietnam, there are about more than 6,000 employees exposed to asbestos at workplaces in roof sheet enterprises. 90% imported white asbestos (Chrysotile) is widely used to produce cement-asbestos roof sheets. All kinds of asbestos including chrysotile are carcinogen agents and they are a cause of about ½ casualties due to occupational cancers.
In order to protect health of employees in general and asbestos -exposed employees in particular the accomplishment of National action plan for elimination of asbestos-related disease and early enforcement are very important and essential to help set up policy on elimination of asbestos-related disease and roadmap of stopping use of asbestos is soon applicable.
(Source: Vnniosh.vn)
