Promoting scientific research activities on OSH in the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation to 2030, vision to 2045 has set forth major orientations to strongly promote the comprehensive and sustainable development of Vietnam’s science and technology in the new period. One of the priority areas is the science of occupational safety and health (OSH), which plays a key role in ensuring the health and safety of workers, contributing to the stability and sustainable development of the socio-economy.

The role of scientific research in the field of OSH

 Scientific research on OSH not only aims to identify, assess, and control risk factors in the working environment but also serves as a foundation for proposing suitable, effective, and sustainable policies and intervention solutions. In the context of strong industrialization, modernization, digital transformation and innovation, the risk factors related to safety and occupational health are becoming increasingly diverse, complex and unpredictable. This poses an urgent demand to enhance scientific research activities to timely adapt to, proactively prevent, and effectively respond to new risks arising in the working environment.

The challenges

Practice shows that despite significant progress, scientific research activities on OSH in Vietnam still face several limitations. The first limitation is the lack of proactivity and long-term strategy, many research projects are still reactive, not driven by practical needs or not well-connected with national development policies and strategies. Secondly, there are limitations regarding resources and research infrastructure; OSH researchers are still limited, the facilities for in-depth research have not been adequately invested, and modern research equipment is still lacking and outdated. Thirdly, there is not a tight linkage between research and practical application, many research results have not been effectively transferred into management and production practices, leading to a lack of clear impact on improving working conditions and the occupational health of workers.

Research orientation for innovation in the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW

Resolution 57-NQ/TW affirms that science, technology and innovation are the main driving forces for rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. In the era of technology and digital transformation, increasingly numerous new dangerous and harmful factors are emerging. Therefore, scientific research orientation needs to be closely tied to production practices and forecast new risks. This includes prioritizing research on working environments in high-risk industries such as mining, chemicals, metallurgy, construction, textiles, electronics, etc., as well as vulnerable labor groups such as freelancers, women, the elderly, and workers in the informal sector.

In particular, it is important to focus on risk factors arising from changes in production technology such as technical errors from automation systems, robots, intelligent control systems; impacts from new materials (nanotechnology, batteries, heavy metals, etc.); and the effects of electromagnetic fields and non-ionizing radiation in working environments with lots of electronic equipment, IoT; or psychological impacts such as stress from remote work, constant pressure to adapt to new technologies. Innovation needs to be understood not only as technical innovation but also as the process of applying new ideas, products, and processes to improve working conditions, reduce accidents, occupational diseases, and enhance workers’ health. Some prominent directions include using robots to replace dangerous jobs; comprehensive digitization of OSH work; building a safety culture within enterprises; encouraging workers to participate in suggesting initiatives to improve working conditions.

Some key areas that need to be promoted scientific research activities on OSH

To successfully achieve the objectives of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo, the OSH sector needs to concentrate on the following key tasks:

1. Develop and implement a National Scientific Research Program on OSH: It is necessary to have a National research program with the overall goal of creating a scientific and technological ecosystem in the field of OSH, serving as a foundation for effective policy, legal, and practical frameworks. The program’s content may include: (i) Research to propose the issuance of regulations, standards, and technical regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, etc., in the field of OSH to create a legal framework for researching and applying development solutions to manage, monitor, and ensure the safety and health of workers. (ii) Research to evaluate the impact of hazardous and harmful factors for workers arising from changes in production technology, the process of digital transformation of the economy, climate change, and aging population… on working conditions and the health of workers. (iii) Research to develop an intelligent labour environment monitoring system, an OSH management system based on AI, big data, IoT sensor devices to detect and alert risks in real-time, wearable devices to monitor personal indices, fatigue status, and locate workers to forecast, analyze risks, report occupational accidents and occupational diseases.
2. Develop specialized research centers in the field of OSH: To improve the quality of research and promote innovation in the OSH field, it is necessary to develop specialized research centers and modern laboratories that meet international standards. The State needs to have mechanisms and policies to support organizations, individuals and businesses in investing in the construction and upgrading of key research centers and laboratories focused on the working environment and occupational health. In addition, it is essential to establish a network of calibration centers to ensure the quality of monitoring the working environment, health surveillance and early detection of occupational diseases. At the same time, a system of laboratories should be developed to serve the testing, assessment, and standardization of safety equipment and PPEs; building data centers and researching the application of automation technology and AI in the field of OSH.
3. Develop a high-quality research workforce: Human resources are a core factor in research activities. Therefore, it is necessary to establish mechanisms to attract and retain talented scientists in the field of OSH. On that basis, it is important to clearly identify the list of long-term (3-5 years) and regular science and technology tasks to proactively recruit and train high-quality researchers. At the same time, it is essential to enhance cooperation between institutes and universities specializing in OSH with research units in cutting-edge technology to leverage and supplement high-quality human resources. Additionally, connecting networks of experts and scientists both domestically and internationally, as well as strengthening Research in stitute – university – business collaboration will contribute to improving practical relevance, application capabilities and technology transfer into practice.
4. Promote scientific cooperation and transfer research results: Domestic and international cooperation is an inevitable trend to promote research and innovation. Research institutes, schools and organizations in Vietnam need to actively organize or participate in national and international scientific conferences on OSH to exchange academic knowledge, update research trends and enhance the professional qualifications of scientific personnel. At the same time, it is necessary to promote the application of international standards such as ISO 45001 (OSH management systems), ISO 17025 (laboratory competence), ISO 15189 (medical laboratory quality), etc., to improve the international integration capacity of domestic scientific and technological organizations. Additionally, the transfer of research results to enterprises should be encouraged through specific policies. It is essential to allow research institutes and univercities to jointly invest and collaborate with businesses or allow scientists to run scientific and technological enterprises to realize research products. This will be an important driving force to bridging the gap of research – application – production.

Conclusion

Strengthening scientific research activities on OSH in line with the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW not only contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of state management, the capacity to prevent and respond to workplace risks, but also plays an important role in protecting human resources, promoting sustainable development and international integration. In an era where knowledge, technology and innovation are vital factors, OSH also needs a strong transformation in thinking and action in scientific research.

Vu Xuan Trung

Deputy Director General of VNNIOSH