National Week on Labour Safety and Fire and Explosion Prevention launched

The 2016 National Week on Labour Safety and Fire and Explosion Prevention was launched in Thua Thien Hue province on March 13, calling on businesses and labourers to actively implement their rights and responsibilities under the Labour Safety Law.

This year’s event launches with a specific and practical theme to change people’s viewpoints and actions to better prevent labour accidents, fires and explosions.

More than 1,000 officials and employees from relevant departments, agencies and businesses participated in the launch.

The annual event launched by the government aims to raise awareness of both employers and employees on preventing labour accidents, fires, and explosions, as well as improving working conditions and promoting specific safety measures for each job.

According to the Week’s Steering Committee, there were 47 labour accidents killing four people and 32 fires causing damages of more than VND32.8 billion in Thua Thien Hue province in 2015.

The main causes of occupational accidents were mostly employers without developed safety working methods and processes for their employees; or workers’ violation of workplace safety. In addition, inspection and handling of violations is still limited, with lack of co-ordination among related authorities in carrying out investigation and handling of serious occupational accidents.

The Steering Committee for the National Week asked agencies, departments, businesses and craft villages to further strengthen communication campaigns to provide training and raise public awareness of the importance of the work, while effectively implementing activities under the National Week to protect the lives and health of workers, reduce labour accidents and keep occupational diseases to a minimum.

At the ceremony, representatives from the business community committed to strengthen communication work on labour safety and fire and explosion prevention while gradually improving the culture of labour safety among workers and officials.

(Source: NDO)