HCM City should do more to reduce occupational hazards: conference

A representative of the HCM City Labour Confederation presents bank savings books to workers suffering from occupational accidents and diseases in District 5 on Friday, May 20. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — Regular communication and training in occupational safety is vital to ensure better working conditions and health protection, reducing workplace accidents, a senior labour leader says.

Phạm Chí Tâm, deputy chairman of the HCM City Labour Federation, said at a conference held in the city last Friday (May 20) that it was necessary that the work on occupational safety and health in agencies, units, and business establishments becomes a “habit.”

HCM City is among localities in the country with the highest number of work-related accidents.

However, it has been making progress in this regard, the conference heard.

Last year, the city recorded 544 occupational accidents, down 45.9 per cent over the previous year. These resulted in 549 deaths and injuries, a year-on-year decrease of 46.7 per cent.

Serious occupational accidents in the construction sector accounted for a high proportion at 30.8 per cent of the total accidents.

The majority of occupational accidents were caused by the “subjective and inadequate awareness” of businesses and investors, Tâm said.

Most accidents occured at small-sized construction projects or manufacturing establishments with less maintenance work done for machinery, equipment and electrical systems.

Violations of occupational safety and hygiene regulations and work safety procedures accounted for 40 per cent of the work-related accidents, while unavoidable, objective causes accounted for 38 per cent, the conference heard.

Experts and participants at the conference exchanged ideas and shared experiences, stressing the importance of providing professional training in occupational safety and health covering all units, enterprises and informal workers.

On the same day, the labour confederation and its District 5 branch organised a visit to workers who had suffered occupational accidents and diseases. They also visited workers with incurable diseases living in difficult circumstances. The victims were presented with gifts and savings books.

The labour federation also provided post-COVID-19 examination and treatment for more than 500 female workers, and organised a special talk for employees on “Benefits of reading books associated with improving mental health after recovering from COVID-19.” — VNS