Building Culture of Occupational Safety in Enterprises

So far, problems in occupational safety and occupational health in fact have not received significant attention from managers of enterprises or from employees. Many enterprises (mainly small and medium enterprises) do not report occupational accidents as regulated by law. In 2012, about 19,311 enterprises sent reports (approximately 5 percent of all enterprises in the country). The culture of occupational safety remains a fuzzy concept for most Vietnamese enterprises.

 

To build the culture of occupational safety, many argue for the necessity of building Law, practising and propagating the culture of occupational safety in every work place of all economic sectors. Enterprises need to be fully equipped, improve their work environment, as well as insure social welfare for employees to work safely. Besides that, they need to improve activities of labour inspection, discovering and dealing with violations. Inspection should not be carried out in a cursory way, but should be an efficient and permanent part of how enterprises do business.

 

Furthermore, it is necessary to firmly and publicly deal with enterprises not strictly following the legal regulations on reporting occupational accidents or implementing the National Programme on Occupational Safety and Occupational Health 2011 - 2015. However, this long-term and important strategy requires efforts from all sectors, departments, enterprises and labourers.

 

During the national week for occupational safety and occupational health and preventing and opposing fire and explosions in 2013, many enterprises actively participated and considered building a culture of occupational safety as an indispensable part of their business plan. Through activities in the week, the union in occupational safety, health and preventing, opposing fire and explosion has been enforced. Many ministries, sectors, locals and enterprises have paid attention, and invested in conducting many activities including seriously complying with reporting requirements.

 

In 2013, Ha Tinh strived to organise 30 training classes on occupational safety and health – preventing and opposing fire and explosion for more than 3,500 employers and employees in producing enterprises, as well as for more than 90 employees in enterprises at high risk of fire and explosion. Relevant authorities will promote supervision in compliance with labour law in enterprises and production units, especially labour protection and occupational safety in construction sites and mining facilities.

 

On 25July 2013, the Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Ninh Binh organised a training class on “constructing an occupational safety and health system” for 50 people who are employers, trade union officials, and officials responsible for occupational safety in enterprises. In the class, 5 major contents of occupational safety and health management were introduced.

 

Especially, the 16^th National Week organised in 2014 will not include marches, manoeuvres and practice in the opening ceremony, instead it will concentrate on activities like: consulting, directly supporting enterprises and employees; organising a signing ceremony where enterprises will make commitments on improving labour conditions and well conducting their responsibilities on occupational safety and health.