Need to "strongly" handle businesses violating occupational safety and health - fire prevention

(Baonghean) - The situation of enterprises violating the law on occupational safety and hygiene (OSH) and fire prevention and fighting (PFD) is very complicated. Workers are not yet aware of protecting their health, life and their rights to be protected to request enterprises to comply. In addition to propaganda work to raise the responsibility of employers and awareness of workers, the authorities need to have strong solutions to handle violating enterprises...

According to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2014, there were 26 work accidents in the province, killing 9 people and injuring 14 others. However, the actual number may be higher because many businesses that have work accidents do not report them to the authorities for investigation and handling according to regulations, but instead resolve them in silence.

Workers are not provided with protective gear when working on high-rise buildings.

In Quy Hop district, one of the localities with many mining, mineral and construction material enterprises operating, most of them have not paid attention to occupational safety and health. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Quy Hop district, said: Every year, the district establishes an inspection team to inspect the compliance with labor laws of enterprises. The team discovered that many enterprises do not participate in social insurance and health insurance for employees, have not developed labor regulations and labor safety regulations, and do not provide adequate labor protection equipment for employees.

In addition, the implementation of occupational hygiene has not been given due attention by enterprises. In 2014, the Health Sector only organized health check-ups for 50 units with a total of 18,961 workers. Through the examination, chronic bronchitis, occupational skin pigmentation, silicosis, and occupational deafness were detected in 6 units with 97 suspected patients. Conducting inspection and monitoring of the working environment at 18 units, it was found that 177/3,052 samples did not meet the permitted standards, accounting for 5.05% of the measured samples.

As a province with a large number of enterprises with more than 7,000 operating enterprises, of which, more than 95% are small and medium enterprises that have only invested in business for profit without paying attention to implementing labor laws, safety and occupational hygiene. Ms. Hoang Thi Huong, Chief Inspector of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of the province, said: Through inspection, it is shown that the working environment conditions at most enterprises are not guaranteed such as: lack of light, ventilation, narrow space. Equipment and machinery for production are still poor and outdated, using equipment and materials with strict safety requirements but not inspected and declared. Many enterprises do not provide labor protection, do not train workers on occupational safety and hygiene, do not organize periodic health check-ups, and do not provide in-kind compensation for workers doing heavy work. Some businesses are fully equipped with personal protective equipment, but workers do not use it or use it incorrectly, and do not strictly comply with procedures, regulations, and internal rules of operation, and safe working measures at the workplace.

The reason for this situation is that businesses have not paid enough attention and invested in occupational safety and health; they have not attended occupational safety and health training courses. Meanwhile, most of the workers in these businesses are unskilled workers, not equipped with basic knowledge of occupational safety and health. Therefore, in the past, many occupational accidents have occurred but businesses have not reported, investigated and implemented policies and regulations for workers according to regulations. Self-inspection at businesses and production facilities is not carried out regularly.

It is clear that businesses and workers have not paid much attention, but the functional sectors have not done their job well. The propaganda and dissemination of legal policies, although implemented, have not been widespread. Inspection and examination work has not been much and has not focused on areas and occupations with high risks of occupational accidents. According to the assessment of the Provincial Labor Federation, the coordination of inspection, supervision and self-inspection of occupational safety and health at the district and grassroots levels has not received much attention, is still formalistic, lacks initiative and in some places, inspections have not been organized for many years.

Check the fire protection system

The fact that enterprises do not declare or self-check on occupational safety and hygiene but there is still no solution. This is causing difficulties in synthesizing and evaluating the situation of occupational accidents in the whole province; creating opportunities for enterprises to "forget" their responsibilities. It is time for the functional sectors to take drastic action, to have strong sanctions to deter and thoroughly handle violations of occupational safety laws, especially violations leading to occupational accidents by enterprises and employers; acts of not strictly complying with the regime of declaration, statistics, and reporting of occupational accidents... At the same time, relevant agencies need to strengthen coordination in investigating, quickly and decisively handling occupational accidents to promptly resolve the regime for workers who have occupational accidents, as well as have measures to overcome violations.

The target set for 2015 is to reduce the frequency of fatal labor by 5%; increase the number of establishments that organize periodic health check-ups by 5%; 100% of workers in occupations and jobs with strict requirements on occupational safety and health are trained and issued occupational safety cards, 100% of workers are trained in occupational safety and health... To achieve the above target, from now on, People's Committees at all levels must direct enterprises and production establishments in the area to strengthen self-inspection of occupational safety and health. Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of localities must strengthen information and propaganda work on occupational safety and health; organize inspections, checks, and closely monitor enterprises, production and business establishments at risk of occupational safety and health loss in the area; strictly implement the investigation and reporting of occupational accidents and serious incidents according to regulations. Enterprises, production and business establishments must strengthen self-inspection of occupational safety and health; Improve working conditions to ensure worker safety and create a safe working environment.

Nguyen Hung