Need to strictly handle the enterprise with more than 60 workers suffering from pneumoconiosis

Unprecedented high incidence of pneumoconiosis

Mr. Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Health said that after nearly 1 month of working, the occupational disease investigation team established by this Department under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee had initial results of health examinations for workers who have been working at Chau Tien Company Limited (located in Nghi Loc district). This is a company with a series of workers suffering from silicosis in a short period of time, of which 6 people have died.

"After nearly a month, we have examined 81 people who have been working at Chau Tien Company. Of these, 3 people were found to have silicosis and are now re-examining, while 78 people went for the first time. The results showed that out of 81 people, 57 people had silicosis," said Mr. Tue, adding that of these 57 people, 19 had severe disease, 25 had moderate disease, and 13 had mild disease. In addition, there were 2 people whose X-ray films were blurry, so they could not be identified.

In the list reported by Chau Tien Company Limited, there are 117 people who used to work at this company. However, despite the notification, up to now, 36 people have not come for medical examination. Among those who have been examined, some cases have gone to work abroad or left the locality. For the 6 cases that died, the investigation team also determined occupational diseases for 5 people. In the remaining case, there is still no basis for determination. This is the case of Mr. Ho Duc H. (residing in Quynh Luu district). Mr. H. is the first worker of Chau Tien Company Limited to die after a short period of resignation.

"For this case, the team also contacted all the hospitals where this person was treated, but the records show that this person was treated for another disease. In this case, the team will continue to investigate," said Mr. Tue.

Thus, including the 5 deaths, a total of 62 people who worked at Chau Tien Company Limited have been diagnosed with silicosis, out of 87 people who have been assessed and examined for health. "In the coming time, we will continue to examine the health of the remaining people, it is likely that the number of people with the disease will increase. This is an unusually high rate of silicosis, never before seen in any enterprise in Vietnam," said an officer of the investigation team.

According to this person, most of the workers who directly work in the stone powder mixing lines have pneumoconiosis. Among those who used to work at Chau Tien Company Limited and are lucky enough not to have this disease, most of them work in outside departments such as security guards, accountants, office staff, etc.

“There are cases where people who have worked here for only a few months still get pneumoconiosis. With an environment with a free silica content of over 99%, working for only 3 months is enough to get infected. This disease progresses silently so the workers do not know, and when symptoms appear, it is already very serious. Therefore, in addition to ensuring a working environment and labor protection, regular health check-ups for workers to detect the disease early are very important. But this company does not do that,” he added.

This health check and occupational disease investigation is carried out under the direction of the Provincial People's Committee. Previously, the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued a document assigning relevant agencies to organize occupational disease investigations for deceased workers. Determine occupational diseases for workers who are still being treated. Organize assessment of the level of reduced working capacity immediately after the results of determining occupational diseases for those who are still being treated and examine and determine occupational diseases for workers who have worked and are working at Chau Tien Company Limited.

Multiple violations

Immediately after the health examination results for the workers were available, Nghe An Provincial Police also collected documents and began investigating the case.

Previously, on May 12, the Provincial People's Committee decided to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect this company. The inspection results showed that this company hadseries of violationsSpecifically, the company has not yet prepared a report to propose the issuance of an environmental license to the competent authority for appraisal and licensing. The collection and storage of hazardous waste is not in accordance with regulations, and hazardous waste is mixed with ordinary waste. Hazardous waste is not collected thoroughly. The hazardous waste storage facility is not in accordance with regulations. The company has not yet signed a contract with a unit with the function of transporting and treating ordinary industrial waste. The storage facility for ordinary industrial waste and domestic waste does not meet the requirements. The internal drainage network of the industrial yard does not meet the requirements. A drainage system has not been built for the entire factory.

Chemicals such as Oxalic Acid, NaOH, Chrome Oxide Green, Boric Acid... used for production activities have not been arranged for separate storage, but are still stored in the workshop. Acid vapors released in the workshop affect the health of workers. The process of soaking and bleaching silica stone is carried out in tanks, without measures to collect forced acid, rudimentary technology, the acid vapors produced affect the health of workers. The silica stone crushing line is carried out using "field" technology outdoors, without measures to collect dust. Meanwhile, the conveyor belt transporting from the steam drying furnace to the fine grinding stage is an open conveyor belt, which is where dust is generated during operation. The company has not installed a system to treat dust generated from the steam drying furnace, acid vapors generated from the drying process after soaking and bleaching. In the fine grinding area, a lot of fine silica dust is emitted, affecting the working environment and the health of workers...

However, the delegation only drew up administrative violation records and proposed penalties in two areas, including not conducting work environment monitoring to control harmful effects on workers' health and not organizing occupational disease examinations for workers, with a fine of just over 100 million VND.

The penalty decision also provided two mitigating circumstances for the company, namely “in 2023, the company organized occupational disease screening for 14 workers” and “conducted environmental monitoring in 2023”. However, according to the reporter’s investigation, the company organized occupational disease screening for workers and conducted environmental monitoring in March 2023 at the request of the authorities, at a time when many workers had died from pneumoconiosis. Therefore, this can hardly be considered a mitigating circumstance.

The incident of a series of workers at Chau Tien Company suffering from pneumoconiosis was only discovered when many people had died and their relatives filed a petition to the local authorities in early 2023. After receiving feedback from the people, in February 2023, Nghi Loc district established an inspection team, accompanied by officials from the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board and the Provincial Labor Federation. However, when they went to the company for inspection, the company's leaders did not cooperate.

According to the leader of Nghi Loc district, another time, a district delegation led by a Vice Chairman of the district People's Committee came to inspect the company after the incident, but when they arrived, the company refused to open the gate to let them in. "They said Nghi Loc district did not have the right to inspect," he said, adding that the Nghi Loc district People's Committee then made a report to request the provincial People's Committee to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team.