What is labor safety? Content you need to know about occupational safety and hygiene
In today's diverse and challenging work environments, ensuring occupational safety and health is not only the responsibility of businesses but also a societal obligation. In this article, let's explore what occupational safety is and what you need to know about occupational safety and health, together with KNA CERT.
What is Occupational Safety?
The Occupational Safety and Health Law of 2015, enacted by the National Assembly based on the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, defines the concept of occupational safety. This law regulates the assurance of occupational safety and health, policies, and regimes for individuals affected by occupational accidents and occupational diseases, as well as the responsibilities and rights of organizations and individuals related to occupational safety and health. It also outlines the state's management of occupational safety and health.
An toàn lao động là gì ?
Trong đó, Khoản 2 và Khoản 3 – Điều 3 (Giải thích từ ngữ) của Bộ luật có đưa ra các định nghĩa như sau:
An toàn lao động là giải pháp phòng, chống tác động của các yếu tố nguy hiểm nhằm bảo đảm không xảy ra thương tật, tử vong đối với con người trong quá trình lao động.
Vệ sinh lao động là giải pháp phòng, chống tác động của yếu tố có hại gây bệnh tật, làm suy giảm sức khỏe cho con người trong quá trình lao động.
Gộp chung hai thuật ngữ trên ta có khái niệm An toàn vệ sinh lao động (ATVSLĐ) là các giải pháp giúp phòng, chống yếu tố gây mất an toàn, làm tổn thương hoặc gây tử vong cho con người trong quá trình lao động. Đảm bảo ATVSLĐ là là xây dựng và duy trì điều kiện lao động, môi trường làm việc mà ở đó không xảy ra nguy hiểm cho người lao động và những người xung quanh.
The Current Situation of Occupational Safety and Health
In recent years, efforts to ensure Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) have achieved certain accomplishments. However, challenges persist due to insufficient attention to OSH training and education in various production and business units. Specifically, in some places, workers still lack a high level of awareness regarding the importance of maintaining safety and health for themselves and the community. Some businesses have not fully implemented safety regulations, lack personal protective equipment, and neglect regular maintenance of machinery and equipment.
According to Announcement No. 1229/TB-LDTBXH in 2023, based on reports from 62 out of 63 provinces and centrally governed cities, in 2022, there were 7,718 occupational accidents (a 1,214 increase, equivalent to 18.66% compared to 2021), resulting in 7,923 casualties (a 1,265 increase, equivalent to 18.99% compared to 2021).
The same announcement also identifies the main causes of fatal occupational accidents, including:
Causes Attributed to Employers
This category accounts for 39.28% of the total incidents and 40.22% of the total fatalities, specifically:
Organization of labor and working conditions: 20.35% of the total incidents and 20.64% of the total fatalities.
Employers failing to establish safety procedures and measures: 9.14% of the total incidents and 9.48% of the total fatalities.
Lack of safety training or insufficient safety training for workers by employers: 3.92% of the total incidents and 3.77% of the total fatalities.
Inadequate safety equipment: 3.1% of the total incidents and 2.99% of the total fatalities.
Employers not providing or inadequately providing personal protective equipment: 2.77% of the total incidents and 3.34% of the total fatalities.
Causes Attributed to Workers
This category represents 18.73% of the total incidents and 18.53% of the total fatalities, broken down as follows:
Workers violating safety procedures and standards: 10.58% of the total incidents and 10.47% of the total fatalities.
Workers not using personal protective equipment and provided safety equipment: 8.15% of the total incidents and 8.06% of the total fatalities.
Currently, the implementation of occupational safety and hygiene in businesses is not truly satisfactory.
Other Causes
The remaining 41.99% of total workplace accidents, resulting in 41.25% of total fatalities, are attributed to other causes such as traffic accidents, accidents caused by others, and unavoidable external factors.
The Importance of Occupational Safety and Hygiene
The current situation partly reflects the significance of occupational safety and hygiene. Besides the apparent significance, occupational safety and hygiene have broader implications:
Protecting the physical and mental health of workers
Occupational safety and hygiene not only ensure safety during working hours but also have a long-term impact on the health of workers. Workplace accidents can lead to severe injuries, even disabilities. The consequences of these accidents not only affect the workers but also their families and society. Additionally, an unsafe working environment can cause various health issues such as mental stress, fatigue, and depression.
2. Nâng cao năng suất lao động và hiệu quả công việc
Một môi trường làm việc an toàn vệ sinh tạo ra sự yên tâm cho người lao động, giúp họ tập trung vào công việc mình đang làm. Khi không phải lo lắng về nguy cơ tai nạn hoặc tình trạng không an toàn, họ có thể làm việc hiệu quả hơn và đạt được hiệu suất cao hơn. Điều này ảnh hưởng không chỉ đến sản xuất mà còn tới tinh thần làm việc của họ. Nhân viên cảm thấy được tôn trọng và quan tâm, từ đó tạo nên môi trường làm việc tích cực và sáng tạo.
3. Thể hiện Trách nhiệm xã hội
Việc bảo vệ an toàn vệ sinh lao động không chỉ là một nhiệm vụ kinh doanh mà còn là một trách nhiệm xã hội. Doanh nghiệp không chỉ có trách nhiệm đối với người lao động của mình mà còn có trách nhiệm đối với cộng đồng và xã hội. Đảm bảo an toàn vệ sinh lao động cho thấy doanh nghiệp tôn trọng và bảo vệ quyền con người.
4. Tạo nền tảng cho sự phát triển bền vững
An toàn vệ sinh lao động là một phần quan trọng của sự phát triển bền vững không chỉ của một tổ chức, một nền kinh tế mà là của cả một quốc gia. Việc đầu tư vào công tác đào tạo và thực hiện những biện pháp an toàn vệ sinh lao động không chỉ giảm thiểu nguy cơ tai nạn và thương tật mà còn tạo ra một môi trường làm việc ổn định và bền vững. Những nơi có tiêu chuẩn an toàn cao thường thu hút được những nhân tài và nhân sự chất lượng, tạo nên cơ hội cạnh tranh và phát triển cho tương lai.
Protecting the health of workers is also contributing to the sustainable development of businesses.
Legal Compliance and Building Reputation
Derived from the field of Occupational Safety and Health, the Government has issued a comprehensive legal framework addressing these issues. In particular, Decree 44/2016/ND-CP stipulates mandatory requirements for various groups of workers in a comprehensive and specific manner. This demonstrates the deep concern and importance of implementing occupational safety and health. Ensuring occupational safety and health not only helps organizations operate legally but also builds credibility as a socially responsible entity, making it easier to attract customers and partners.
Target Groups for Occupational Safety and Health
6 groups of Occupational Safety and Health training
Group 1: Managers
Group 1 includes individuals responsible for occupational safety and health management, such as:
Head of the unit, production or business facility, and relevant departments, offices, branches
Person in charge of production, business, and technical departments
Workshop foreman or equivalent;
Deputies of the head as stipulated in this Clause are assigned the task of overseeing occupational safety and health. Members of Group 1 often hold leadership positions and do not directly participate in production activities, such as the CEO, Deputy CEO, Head or Deputy Head of a department (division) of the company or branch; in charge of departments: Production – Business – Technology.
Group 2: Occupational Safety and Health Practitioners
Group 2 comprises individuals who:
Specialize or semi-specialize in occupational safety and health of the facility Directly supervise occupational safety and health in the workplace
Occupational safety and health practitioners perform tasks such as:
- Establishing rules, procedures, and occupational safety and health measures
- Enforcing and monitoring the implementation of occupational safety and health measures
- Managing, monitoring, and reporting on machinery and materials
- Disseminating information and promoting occupational safety and health within the organization
Group 3: Workers with Strict Occupational Safety and Health Requirements
Within the occupational safety and health training groups, Group 3 is divided into various types based on different work environments and job characteristics, including:
Workers in jobs listed under categories with strict occupational safety and health requirements
Workers in jobs with exposure to categories of equipment with strict occupational safety and health requirements regulated by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.
Titles and positions that may belong to Group 3 include: Workers, Maintenance Staff, Technicians, Team Leaders, Technical Officers, and Employees...
Note: Titles within each organization may vary, but individuals must work in a strict environment and be exposed to factors that may pose risks to workers to be classified into Group 3.
Group 4: Individuals not belonging to Groups 1, 2, 3, 5 in 6
Group 4 typically includes:
- Apprentices and trainees
- Probationary employees
Workers without positions, not involved in occupational safety and health work, working in non-hazardous conditions.
Group 5: Health Workers
Provide advice to leaders and directly manage the health of workers, such as:
- Developing plans, first aid measures, and emergency situations for occupational accidents
- Creating health checkup plans
- Organizing regular and emergency medical examinations for workers involved in occupational accidents...
- Titles and positions that may belong to Group 5 include: Doctors, Medical Officers, Health Workers, and Nurses...
Group 6: Safety and Hygiene Officers
Safety and hygiene officers are workers who are directly involved in safety and hygiene, have professional knowledge and technical expertise in occupational safety and health; voluntarily and serve as role models in adhering to regulations on occupational safety and health and are elected by workers in their teams.
Safety and hygiene officers have the responsibility to encourage, remind, and guide everyone in the team, department, or workshop to strictly comply with regulations on occupational safety and health, monitor the implementation of standards, regulations, procedures, safety rules, and hygiene rules, detect deficiencies, violations of occupational safety and health, and cases of loss of safety and hygiene in machinery, equipment, materials, substances, and workplaces.
Titles and positions that may belong to Group 6 safety and hygiene officers: Team Leaders, Squad Leaders, Shift Leaders...
The minimum training duration for each occupational safety and health training group is as follows, according to Article 19 of Decree 44/2016/ND-CP, as amended by Article 6 of Decree 140/2018/ND-CP:
- Group 1 and Group 4: The total minimum training time is 16 hours, including the examination time.
- Group 2: The total minimum training time is 48 hours, including theoretical and practical training, and examination time.
- Group 3: The total minimum training time is 24 hours, including the examination time.
- Group 5: The total minimum training time is 16 hours, including the examination time.
- Group 6: The total minimum training time is 4 hours, excluding the content already trained on occupational safety and health.
The training duration varies for each group.
Occupational Safety and Health Training Course by KNA
KNA CERT is designated to provide occupational safety and health training by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs. We offer Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) training services for all 6 groups: 1-2-3-4-5-6.
Certificate of Eligibility for Occupational Safety and Health Training by KNA CERT
KNA commits to:
Conduct OSHA training in compliance with Decree No. 44/2016/ND-CP and Decree No. 140/2018/ND-CP
Ensure training duration in accordance with legal regulations
Issue valid training certificates (Groups 1,2,5,6), Safety Cards (Group 3), and provide guidance for maintaining the Training Record Book (Group 4)
For detailed information, please contact KNA Certification Services at the hotline: 0968.038.122 or Email: salesmanager@knacert.com for the earliest assistance.
