Occupational Safety Training Materials for Group 6

DOWNLOAD OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY DOCUMENTS (6 GROUPS, OVER 300 OCCUPATIONS)

THE DOCUMENT ON GROUP 6 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY TRAINING (English version)

The training materials for Group 6 occupational safety training are compiled to help Group 6 employees understand the duties of occupational safety officers.

PART 1: LEGAL BASIS FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY OFFICER ACTIVITIES IN GROUP 6 SAFETY DOCUMENTS

1. Excerpts from the 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Law

Article 74. Occupational Safety Officers

1. Each production team in business or production establishments must have at least one occupational safety officer during working hours. Employers shall decide on the establishment and issue the operating regulations of the occupational safety officer network after consulting the local trade union committee if such a committee exists.
2. Occupational safety officers are direct employees, knowledgeable in occupational safety and health technical matters; they act voluntarily and set an example in complying with safety regulations, and are elected by the employees of their team.
3. Occupational safety officers operate under the management and guidance of the local trade union committee, based on the operating regulations of the safety officer network; they coordinate on technical and professional safety matters with the workplace safety staff or safety management unit, or medical staff in the establishment.
4. Occupational safety officers have the following duties:
   • a) Urge, remind, and guide all team members to strictly follow occupational safety and health regulations, maintain safety equipment and personal protective equipment; remind team leaders, supervisors, and managers to comply with safety regulations;
   • b) Monitor compliance with standards, regulations, procedures, and safety rules, identify deficiencies or violations, and notice unsafe conditions of machines, equipment, materials, substances, and the workplace;
   • c) Participate in safety planning; guide safe work methods for new employees;
   • d) Recommend to team leaders or superiors to fully implement protective measures and promptly address unsafe conditions of machines, equipment, materials, substances, and the workplace;
   • e) Report to the trade union or labor inspectorate when detecting violations or unsafe conditions that have not been corrected by the employer after recommendation.

5. Occupational safety officers have the following rights:
   • a) Receive full information on measures implemented by the employer to ensure occupational safety and health;
   • b) Allocate part of working time to perform safety officer duties with full salary and responsibility allowance.
   • The responsibility allowance is agreed upon by the employer and the trade union committee and recorded in the safety officer network regulations;
   • c) Require employees to stop work to implement safety measures if direct risks of incidents or accidents arise, and take responsibility for this decision;
   • d) Attend training to improve professional skills, operational methods, and knowledge.

2. Excerpts from Circular 07/2016/TT-BLĐTBXH issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on May 15, 2016

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular regulates the organization of risk assessment, self-inspection, reporting, preliminary review, and final review on occupational safety and health for production and business establishments.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Circular applies to production and business establishments specified in Clause 1, Article 3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Law.

Article 3. Organization of risk assessment on occupational safety and health

1. For establishments in industries specified in Article 8 of this Circular, employers must conduct mandatory risk assessments and include them in workplace rules and procedures.
2. Risk assessment shall be carried out at the following times:
   • a) Initial assessment at the start of operations;
   • b) Periodic assessment at least once a year, unless specialized law stipulates otherwise; timing is decided by the employer;
   • c) Additional assessment when there are changes in materials, technology, production organization, or after accidents or serious incidents affecting safety.
3. Risk assessment shall follow these steps:
   • a) Develop a risk assessment plan;
   • b) Implement the risk assessment;
   • c) Summarize the assessment results.

Article 4. Planning risk assessment

1. Determine objectives, subjects, scope, and timing of the risk assessment.
2. Select methods to identify and analyze hazards and harmful factors.
3. Assign responsibilities to departments, workshops, teams, and relevant individuals.
4. Estimate the budget for implementation.

Article 5. Implementing risk assessment

1. Identify hazardous and harmful factors by referring to:
   • a) Analysis of working conditions and processes;
   • b) On-site inspections;
   • c) Surveys of workers about potential hazards and health impacts;
   • d) Review of records: accident reports, technical incident reports, environmental monitoring, health check results, company self-inspection records, labor inspection reports.
2. Analyze the likelihood and consequences of safety risks arising from identified hazards.

Article 6. Summarizing risk assessment results

1. Classify severity of risks corresponding to identified hazards.
2. Determine acceptable risks and measures to reduce them to a reasonable level.
3. Summarize assessment results and propose measures to proactively prevent occupational accidents, occupational diseases, and improve working conditions.

Article 7. Guiding employees to self-assess occupational safety risks

Based on risk assessment results, employers shall define content, methods, and organization for guiding employees to:

1. Identify hazards and harmful factors in the workplace;
2. Apply preventive measures against hazards;
3. Detect and report promptly to responsible persons about risks that may cause accidents, occupational diseases, or technical incidents.

Article 8. Industries with High Risk of Occupational Accidents and Occupational Diseases

1. Mining, coke production, refined petroleum product production.
2. Chemical production, rubber and plastic product manufacturing.
3. Metal production and metal product manufacturing.
4. Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing.
5. Construction works.
6. Shipbuilding and ship repair.
7. Electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
8. Seafood processing and preservation.
9. Textile, garment, leather, and footwear production.
10. Scrap recycling.
11. Environmental sanitation.

Article 9. Self-Inspection on Occupational Safety and Health

1. Employers must prescribe and organize self-inspection of occupational safety and health in production and business establishments.
2. The content, form, and timing of self-inspection shall be decided by the employer according to the guidance in Appendix I attached to this Circular.
3. For establishments in industries specified in Article 8, employers must conduct comprehensive inspections at least once every six months at the establishment level, and once every three months at the workshop, team, or equivalent level.
4. For establishments in other industries, employers must conduct comprehensive inspections at least once a year at the establishment level, and once every six months at the workshop, team, or equivalent level.

Article 10. Statistics and Reporting on Occupational Safety and Health

1. Employers must maintain records of all items required for reporting on occupational safety and health. These records must be stored in accordance with the law and used for monitoring, analysis, and policy-making on occupational safety and health.
2. Employers must report annually on occupational safety and health to the Department of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Health (directly, by fax, post, or email) using the forms specified in Appendix II attached to this Circular. Reports must be submitted before January 10 of the following year.
3. Departments of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs of provinces and centrally-run cities shall summarize the occupational safety and health performance of establishments in their area and submit to the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs using the form in Appendix III attached to this Circular before January 25 each year.

Article 11. Preliminary and Final Reviews

1. Annually, employers must organize preliminary and final reviews on occupational safety and health, including analysis of results, limitations, lessons learned; recognize and reward units and individuals performing well; and promote occupational safety movements.
2. Reviews must be conducted from the workshop, team, or production unit level up to the entire establishment.

Article 12. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2016.
2. The Joint Circular No. 01/2011/TTLT-BLĐTBXH-BYT dated January 10, 2011, guiding occupational safety and health in workplaces, shall expire from the effective date of this Circular.
3. Pursuant to Chapter V of the Occupational Safety and Health Law, Articles 36, 37, 38 of Decree No. 39/2016/ND-CP, and this Circular, employers shall organize occupational safety and health activities at production and business establishments.
4. Any issues arising during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs for review and resolution.

ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER

Doãn Mậu Diệp

3. Principles for Organizing the Occupational Safety Officer Network in Group 6 Safety Materials

• All enterprises must organize an occupational safety officer network;
• Occupational safety officers are direct employees, knowledgeable in safety technical skills; enthusiastic and exemplary in safety, and elected by their team;
• Each production team must have at least one safety officer. For group tasks, each group must have one safety officer;
• Safety officers are not production team leaders;
• Employers coordinate with the Trade Union Committee to establish the network and recognize safety officers;
• The safety officer network is directly managed by the Trade Union Committee;

Safety officers are allocated part of working time to perform their duties, with professional training, allowance, and incentives both materially and morally.

---

PART 2: SKILLS AND WORKING METHODS OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY OFFICERS IN GROUP 6 SAFETY MATERIALS

1. Operational Skills of Safety Officers in Group 6 Safety Materials

a. Concept

Skill is the ability or competence of a subject to perform a task or a sequence of actions proficiently based on knowledge (theoretical or experiential) to achieve desired results.

Thus, skills are formed when knowledge and experience are applied in practice proficiently and skillfully to achieve the best outcome. Skills are acquired through repeated performance of one or a set of actions. Skills always have a clear purpose and direction.

b. Essential Skills for an Occupational Safety Officer

Professional handling skills are acquired through work and life experience and can be applied in daily work. For a safety officer, the more skills they possess, the better their performance in handling situations, achieving results closer to the desired goals. While mastering all skills is difficult, a safety officer must at least possess the following core skills:

1. Knowledge Skills
   • Master specialized knowledge and have proficiency in their tasks;
   • Understand technological processes of each product stage in their team;
   • Understand their unit’s processes and meet client and partner requirements;
   • Closely follow employees and the workplace;
   • Continuously perform assigned tasks;
   • Analyze and evaluate hazards and risks arising during work and propose timely solutions;
   • Be diligent in learning to improve professional skills, technical knowledge, and competency to meet work demands.
2. Communication Skills
   • Be patient and persuasive to regularly influence employees to build awareness of safety compliance;
   • Be decisive when employees violate safety regulations;
   • Maintain close relationships with the unit’s safety staff;
   • Act boldly and decisively against unsafe behavior, promptly detect hazards, and report to management;
   • Set an example in following safety rules, procedures, and regulations;
   • Advocate and persuade employees in the team to follow safety measures; listen to feedback and suggestions.
3. Incident Handling and First Aid Skills
   • Apply knowledge of law, science, and technology to handle incidents;
   • Engage others in incident handling;
   • Require employees to stop work for safety measures and incident handling;
   • Organize on-site first aid for accident victims.
4. Reporting and Summary Skills
   • Prepare concise daily, weekly, monthly, and annual summaries of safety officer activities;
   • Analyze strengths and weaknesses in operations;
   • Provide evaluations and forecasts of safety officer activities;
   • Draw conclusions and lessons learned from the network’s activities.

2. Living and Activity Regime of the Occupational Safety Officer Network in Group 6 Safety Materials

For the occupational safety officer network to operate effectively, employers and the grassroots Trade Union need to establish the content, working regime, and activity schedule for the network.

a. Regular Activity Contents of the Safety Officer Network

During regular activities, the Trade Union Committee and management must inform the safety officer network of at least the following contents:

• Legal documents, policies, standards, norms, procedures related to occupational safety; updates on new regulations and guidance on occupational safety and health from the state, higher authorities, and the Trade Union;
• The current situation of occupational safety and health at the unit, including any occupational accidents or incidents;
• Highlight existing issues that need addressing, lessons learned, and preventive solutions. Exchange and propose safety measures to resolve shortcomings in the unit;
• Upcoming tasks for the safety officer network. Report and reflect employees’ opinions, suggestions, and proposals regarding equipment improvement, working conditions enhancement, and labor reduction;
• Commend individuals and safety officers in teams who perform well in occupational safety work; remind or criticize those who have not fulfilled their responsibilities.

b. Activity Regime of the Safety Officer Network

Based on the regular activity contents, the following activity regime should be implemented:

• Activity schedules depend on the level of production organization. Safety officers in production teams should meet or discuss regularly per shift or day, at least once a week;
• At the workshop, factory, or enterprise level, the safety officer network should meet at least once a week. At the company or unit level, meetings should be held at least once a month;
• Activities can be thematic or combined with professional meetings. Ad hoc meetings may be held to review lessons after incidents, accidents, or inspections by higher authorities;
• Safety officer networks in teams or workshops should meet at the end of the week to summarize occupational safety conditions, draw lessons, propose improvements, and report to management and the Trade Union Chairman;
• Every 6 months or annually, the Trade Union cooperates with the employer to summarize and evaluate the network’s activities, reward or recommend outstanding safety officers, and remind or criticize those not fulfilling their duties;
• Annually, the Trade Union Committee must provide training, professional information, and send safety officers to advanced courses organized by the Trade Union or industry authorities.

c. Daily and Routine Activities of Safety Officers in Group 6 Safety Materials

1. Before the shift or working hours
   • Safety officers remind team leaders and employees to check the safety status of machines, equipment, personal protective equipment, follow work procedures, regulations, and use protective gear properly.
   • Check workplace conditions: cleanliness, factory or site layout, workstation arrangement, etc.
   • Inspect and detect safety and hygiene issues related to machines, equipment, and work areas; detect violations of occupational safety regulations by employees.
   • Monitor safety training for newly hired employees or those transferred from other departments.
   • Encourage employees to comply with occupational safety requirements and ensure they are trained before starting work.
   • Record observations in the safety officer log to track or report safety and hygiene status to higher management.
2. During the shift or working hours
   • Safety officers continuously monitor and detect unsafe situations, violations, or risks to occupational safety, reminding employees to comply with regulations.
   • Monitor material incentives for employees performing heavy, hazardous tasks.
   • If safety risks or violations that may lead to accidents or unsafe conditions are detected, immediately request the team leader or supervisor to stop machinery, halt production, or temporarily suspend the employee to handle the issue safely.
   • Record observations in the safety officer log for tracking or reporting purposes.
3. At the end of the shift or working hours
   • Safety officers remind employees to clean and organize the workspace.
   • Check the safety status of machines, equipment, and protective gear, and hand over to the next shift with the team leader or shift supervisor.
   • Collect employees’ feedback on hazards, unsafe conditions, and suggestions for improving equipment, working conditions, reducing labor, and ensuring safety.
   • Report or recommend solutions to management for observed safety issues during the shift or day.
   • Record findings in the safety officer log for monitoring or reporting purposes.

3. Working Methods of Safety Officers in Group 6 Safety Materials

The effectiveness of safety officers greatly depends on their methods of operation. Along with setting content, schedules, and daily routines, employers and grassroots Trade Unions must develop and train safety officers in operational methods, with the following considerations:

a. Methods and Modes of Operation

• As direct workers in production teams, safety officers must set an example in complying with occupational safety regulations;
• They must closely follow and engage with employees, listen to opinions, and gather feedback regarding safety and hygiene;
• Advocate, persuade, and supervise employees to follow safety regulations; monitor and promptly detect risks and unsafe situations;
• Firmly remind, encourage, and propose corrective measures to employees, team leaders, and supervisors for unsafe situations;
• Maintain a log to regularly record safety conditions and employees’ feedback related to occupational safety;
• Coordinate with team leaders to involve employees in improving working conditions and self-implement simple, low-cost safety improvements;
• Work with team leaders to develop and monitor team occupational safety plans;
• Provide feedback on safety conditions and suggestions during daily and weekly production reviews;
• Coordinate with team leaders to perform regular internal safety inspections, integrating safety into team management alongside workforce, materials, and progress management;
• From monitoring and inspections, during daily or weekly review meetings, the team leader and safety officers analyze, propose corrective actions, assign tasks, and immediately carry out practical improvements (cleaning, organizing, securing equipment, etc.).

b. Some Solutions in Safety Officer Network Operations

Properly defining content and methods enhances the effectiveness of the safety officer network. To ensure efficiency, practicality, and effectiveness, employers and Trade Unions should implement the following solutions:

• First: Employers, in coordination with the Trade Union Committee, issue a decision establishing the network and its operating regulations, clearly defining duties, authority, responsibilities, and rights of safety officers; specify the obligations of related personnel to facilitate the network’s activities and prevent obstruction. Decisions and regulations must be communicated to all employees and management.
• Second: Ensure the credibility and experience of safety officers are appropriate to the job. Safety officers must be elected and introduced by team employees and formally recognized by employers.
• Third: Provide knowledge on occupational safety, professional skills, and operational methods. Employers must organize training and professional development for safety officers.
• Fourth: Employers and Trade Unions should regularly hold network meetings to review tasks, exchange professional knowledge, update laws, policies, standards, and procedures; share accident cases for lessons learned and preventive measures. Managers and Trade Unions should attend these meetings to understand the situation, listen to proposals, and implement timely solutions.
• Fifth: Enterprises must provide allowances or monetary incentives linked to the responsibilities of safety officers. Every 6 months or annually, evaluate the network’s activities to encourage effectiveness, reward outstanding officers, and remind, criticize, or replace those not fulfilling duties. Address any obstruction to the network’s work.

---

PART 3: SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS IN GROUP 6 SAFETY MATERIALS

To test knowledge, support critical thinking, and improve professional skills, safety officers should refer to and answer the following questions:

1. Essay Questions in Group 6 Safety Materials

• What is the safety officer network? State the principles of organization, duties, and rights of safety officers.
• Which document defines the responsibilities of the occupational safety and health department? Describe the contents and relate them to the actual situation at your unit.
• Explain the purpose of periodic health checks and occupational disease screenings for employees, the timing of examinations, and examination standards.
• Define occupational accidents. Which types of accidents are eligible for compensation or support?
• Explain the responsibilities of the employer when an occupational accident occurs at the unit.
• What are the compensation and support regimes for occupational accidents? State the conditions for employees to receive compensation and support, and the respective amounts.
• Explain the powers of the occupational safety and health department.
• Classify occupational accidents and state the authority of the accident investigation team at your workplace.
• Describe the content, form, and organization of self-inspections of occupational safety and health at the workplace.
• Which public holidays allow employees to have paid leave with full salary?

2. Multiple Choice and Self-Answer Questions in Group 6 Safety Materials

1. When was the Labor Code approved by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 13th session, 3rd meeting?
   • a. June 18, 2012
   • b. June 18, 2013
   • c. August 18, 2013
2. How many chapters and articles does the Occupational Safety and Health Law dated June 25, 2015 have?
   • a. 17 chapters, 242 articles
   • b. 7 chapters, 93 articles
   • c. 10 chapters, 95 articles
3. Content of Occupational Safety Training for Group 4 according to Decree 44/2016/ND-CP dated May 15, 2016, includes:
   • a. Basic knowledge of occupational safety and health; rights and obligations of employers and employees; policies and regimes regarding occupational safety and health;
   • b. Basic knowledge of hazards and harmful factors in the workplace and methods to improve working conditions; functions and duties of the safety officer network;
   • c. Safety culture in production and business; occupational safety regulations, safety signs, guides, use of safety equipment and personal protective equipment, first aid skills, and occupational disease prevention;
   • d. All of the above.
4. How should material allowances be organized?
   • a. Employees eat on-site during breaks and cannot receive cash.
   • b. Employees eat at the end of the shift and cannot receive cash.
   • c. Employees receive material allowances at the end of the month and cannot receive cash.
5. Forms of occupational safety and health inspection include:
   • a. Overall content inspection, thematic inspection, post-production inspection, pre- and post-rainy season inspection.
   • b. Overall inspection, thematic inspection, post-production inspection, pre- and post-rainy season inspection, inspection after incidents.
   • c. Overall inspection of safety and health relevant to inspection authority; thematic inspection of each planned content; post-long production break inspection; pre/post-rainy season inspection; post-incident or major repair inspection; periodic inspection for reminders or performance evaluation; other forms suitable for the unit’s actual situation.
6. Occupational hazard prevention measures include:
   • a. Safety conditions of machines, equipment, factories, warehouses, and workplaces;
   • b. Use and maintenance of personal protective equipment; fire-fighting equipment; essential medicines and first aid tools;
   • c. Management and use of machines, equipment, materials, and substances requiring strict safety and hygiene;
   • d. Employees’ knowledge and ability in emergency response;
   • e. Implementation of labor protection and health care regimes;
   • f. Implementation of recommendations from safety inspections, audits, and accident investigations;
   • g. All of the above.
7. When should occupational safety risk assessments be conducted?
   • a. Initial assessment at the start of production or business activities;
   • b. Periodic assessment at least once a year during operation, unless sectoral laws specify otherwise. The timing is decided by the employer;
   • c. Additional assessment when there are changes in materials, technology, production organization, or after accidents or technical incidents causing serious safety risks;
   • d. All of the above.
8. How many occupational diseases are recognized by the State?
   • a. 28 occupational diseases
   • b. 30 occupational diseases
   • c. 34 occupational diseases
9. Night working hours are counted from which time?
   • a. 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM the next day
   • b. 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM the next day
   • c. 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM the next day
10. According to the 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Law, how many rights and obligations do safety officers have?
    • a. 4 rights, 4 obligations
    • b. 4 rights, 5 obligations
    • c. 5 rights, 6 obligations
11. According to the 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Law, when creating an OSH plan, employers must:
    • a. Obtain opinions from the Trade Union Committee;
    • b. Not need to obtain opinions from the Trade Union Committee;
    • c. Only obtain opinions from higher authorities.
12. In which case is financial support provided for occupational accidents?
    • a. Accidents caused directly by the employee’s fault according to the accident investigation report;
    • b. Accidents occurring while commuting between home and workplace via a reasonable route and time, caused by someone else or unknown cause;
    • c. Both a and b.
13. The daily material allowance corresponds to the following cash value:
    • a. Level 1: 10,000 VND; Level 2: 15,000 VND; Level 3: 20,000 VND; Level 4: 25,000 VND
    • b. Level 1: 8,000 VND; Level 2: 12,000 VND; Level 3: 16,000 VND; Level 4: 20,000 VND
    • c. Level 1: 15,000 VND; Level 2: 20,000 VND; Level 3: 25,000 VND; Level 4: 30,000 VND
14. Under the 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Law, how many rights and obligations do employees under labor contracts have?
    • a. 5 rights, 3 obligations
    • b. 6 rights, 3 obligations
    • c. 7 rights, 4 obligations
15. According to the 2015 OSH Law, how many rights and obligations do employers have?
    • a. 4 rights, 7 obligations
    • b. 4 rights, 6 obligations
    • c. 5 rights, 5 obligations
16. According to the 2015 OSH Law, how many rights and responsibilities does the grassroots Trade Union have in OSH work?
    • a. 7 rights and responsibilities
    • b. 8 rights and responsibilities
    • c. 9 rights and responsibilities
17. According to the 2015 OSH Law, how many responsibilities does the employer have?
    • a. 7 responsibilities
    • b. 8 responsibilities
    • c. 9 responsibilities
18. According to the 2015 OSH Law, how many responsibilities does the employee have?
    • a. 3 responsibilities
    • b. 4 responsibilities
    • c. 5 responsibilities

3. Safety Officer Situational Questions in Group 6 Safety Materials

A. Question 1

At Commercial Tower A, there is one passenger electric elevator in operation. The management of Tower A signed a contract with Company B.T to install an air conditioner (AC) unit for the technical department located on the 3rd floor. Around 5:00 PM on January 13, 2011, the B.T company team of 3 workers arrived at Tower A to install the AC.

After contacting Mr. Nh (responsible for maintenance of electricity and water systems at Tower A) without success, the B.T workers proceeded to install the AC themselves, planning to place the outdoor condenser on the rooftop and route the gas pipe between the indoor unit (3rd floor) and the condenser through the elevator shaft. During installation, worker Khanh crawled through the ventilation hole above the elevator shaft and stood on top of the cabin to move up and down to install the piping; worker Vi stayed in the elevator cabin to operate the control buttons as requested by Khanh; worker Vinh on the rooftop helped guide the gas pipe into the elevator shaft at the machine room top to coordinate installation from the 4th floor.

In this situation, as a safety officer, how would you handle it? Which regulations would you base your actions on?

Which safety and labor regulations did the AC installation workers violate?

• Safety officers have the duty to “Monitor the implementation of standards, procedures, and safety regulations; detect deficiencies and violations of occupational safety and health by workers in the team/department; detect unsafe conditions of machinery and equipment.” Based on Article 74 of the 2015 OSH Law regulating safety officer duties. Therefore, the officer must monitor, remind the workers when unsafe practices occur, and report to responsible personnel for timely handling.
• The AC installation workers have:

1. 1. Failed to inform the building management to assign a representative to cooperate during the installation process.
   2. Installed the gas pipe inside the elevator shaft, violating safety standards for electric elevators.

• They had no safety procedures or working methods. Violated Article 136, Clause 2 of the 2012 Labor Code.

B. Question 2

Company A operates in telecommunications services. Due to the nature of the work, Company A organizes 9 technical teams to serve customers, while at the office there is a customer service, HR, and billing department. According to the authorities’ guidance, the company must establish a network of safety officers. After meetings, the Director of Company A appointed 10 people (including the 9 team leaders and 1 HR staff) as the safety officer network, under supervision of the HR Manager.

In your opinion, is the formation of the safety officer network by Company A correct? Why?

Please describe the regulations on the organization and operation of the safety officer network according to the 2015 OSH Law (effective July 1, 2016).

• Answer: Incorrect;
• Reason, based on Clause 2, Article 74 of the 2015 OSH Law:
• “Safety officers are direct employees, knowledgeable in occupational safety and health; voluntary and exemplary in complying with OSH regulations, and elected by employees in the team.”
• Thus, the director’s appointment is incorrect. Additionally, safety officers must be direct employees and cannot be HR staff.
• Regulations on organization and operation of the safety officer network are in Article 74 of the 2015 OSH Law.
• The employer issues the decision to establish and the operating regulations of the safety officer network after consultation with the grassroots trade union, if applicable;
• Safety officers operate under management and guidance of the trade union, following the network’s regulations, and cooperate on technical OSH matters with safety personnel or the OSH department, and the medical staff/unit at the workplace.

C. Question 3

Company B operates in garment manufacturing. The company has a fabric cutting department of 10 workers led by Mr. D. There is also a safety officer network of 30 people, including Mr. C, a worker in the cutting department. On September 1, 2015, while working, Mr. C heard workers reporting an electrical leak at the cutting table area (metal edges around). After checking, Mr. C confirmed the leak and asked all workers to stop working and report to management. However, due to urgent orders, Mr. D refused and instructed workers to continue.

In your opinion, was Mr. C correct to stop all workers? On what basis?

Please present regulations related to safety officer rights:

• Answer: Correct.
• Based on Clause 5, Article 74 of the 2015 OSH Law (effective July 1, 2016).
• The safety officer’s rights include 4 main points according to the 2015 OSH Law.

D. Question 4

Company A produces stationery. In its workshop, 10 compressed air tanks are used for production. On July 17, 2016, two inspectors from Company X came to measure, draw schematics, and perform ultrasonic testing to determine tank wall thickness, without performing hydraulic tests.

As a safety officer, should you raise concerns about the inspectors’ actions? Why?

What conditions must be met for safety technical inspection of compressed air tanks? Which regulations apply?

• Safety officers must raise concerns about non-compliance with inspection procedures.
• Reason: Duty of safety officers per Point b, Clause 4, Article 74 of the 2015 OSH Law.
• Inspectors must be certified and authorized to inspect the equipment and follow procedures issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.
• Based on Circular No. 06/2014/TT-BLĐTBXH and Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BLĐTBXH dated March 6, 2014.

E. Question 5

Company H is a garment manufacturing company. In the fabric cutting department, 6 workers use cutting machines. However, Company H does not provide personal protective equipment (PPE), workers are not trained in OSH, and no safety regulations are posted.

As a safety officer in this department, how would you handle the situation?

Which regulations would you base your recommendations on?

• Safety officers have the duty to “Propose to supervisors to implement full labor protection measures, ensure safety, and promptly address unsafe conditions of machines, equipment, materials, and the workplace.” (Point d, Clause 4, Article 74, 2015 OSH Law)
• Based on employer duties (Article 7) and employee rights (Article 6) of the 2015 OSH Law, safety officers should request PPE such as metal gloves, masks, organize OSH training (Article 14, Clause 2), and develop/implement internal OSH rules and procedures (Article 15).

F. Question 6

Company S produces fertilizers. Its management includes HR, Planning–Finance, Technical–OSH departments. At the end of 2016, the Director assigned Mr. V (Planning–Finance) to develop the 2017 OSH plan based on the production plan.

Is it correct to assign a finance staff to develop the OSH plan?

What contents should the OSH plan include?

Should safety officers participate in developing the plan?

• According to Clause 2, Article 72 of the 2015 OSH Law, OSH personnel advise and assist the employer in organizing OSH activities, including “Developing and monitoring annual OSH plans; assessing risks and preparing emergency plans.”
• The OSH plan should include (Clause 3, Article 76):

1. 1. Technical measures for occupational safety and fire/explosion prevention;
   2. Occupational hygiene measures, prevention of harmful factors, and improvement of working conditions;
   3. Provision of PPE for employees;
   4. Employee health care;
   5. Information, communication, education, and OSH training.

• According to Point c, Clause 4, Article 74, safety officers have the duty to participate in developing OSH plans.

G. Question 7

At the end of the year, Company P held a meeting to discuss the occupational safety and health (OSH) plan for the next year. During the meeting, there were multiple opinions, including suggestions to save costs by limiting purchases of expensive but rarely used equipment. Mr. A – Director of Company P – presiding over the meeting, had difficulty deciding on the basis for preparing the OSH plan.

If you were a safety officer participating in this meeting, what would your opinion be regarding the company’s OSH plan?

What contents should an OSH plan include?

• The OSH plan must be developed based on legal regulations, specifically: Article 76 of the 2015 OSH Law (effective from July 1, 2016).
• Preparation of the OSH plan must involve consultation with the grassroots trade union committee.
• The basis for preparing the OSH plan includes:

1. 1. Risk assessment of occupational safety and health at the workplace; hazard control and emergency response plan;
   2. Results of OSH activities from the previous year;
   3. Production and business plans and labor situation for the planned year;
   4. Recommendations from employees, trade unions, and inspection authorities.

• The OSH plan should cover the following main contents (Clause 3, Article 76 OSH Law):

1. 1. Technical measures for occupational safety and fire/explosion prevention;
   2. Occupational hygiene measures, control of harmful factors, and improvement of working conditions;
   3. Provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees;
   4. Employee health care;
   5. Information, communication, education, and OSH training.

H. Question 8

Company X operates in paper production. At the factory, there are 2 wood-fired boilers, 2 steam collecting tanks (80 liters each), and 4 paper pressing machines. Two workers are responsible for boiler installation. Following government guidance, the company sent 2 boiler operators for OSH training.

Upon returning, the workers applied their knowledge and found that the 2 steam collecting tanks had not been safety inspected according to regulations. They requested management to conduct the inspection immediately. Management promised to consider it and allocate budget next year. Noting the tanks were unsafe, the workers refused to continue working until the inspection was done.

In this situation, did the 2 workers violate labor discipline?

Which regulations justify the workers’ actions?

If you were a safety officer, how would you handle it according to the 2015 OSH Law?

• The 2 workers did not violate labor discipline.
• Justification: Employees’ rights under Clause 2, Article 140 of the 2012 Labor Code, and rules on using equipment requiring strict OSH compliance (equipment not inspected cannot be used).
• Safety officers must report to labor inspectors if violations of OSH are detected or if unsafe machinery, materials, or equipment have not been addressed after reporting to the employer.

I. Question 9

On July 15, 2016, at Garment Company M, a labor accident injured worker N (eye injury caused by a sewing needle). After treatment, worker N returned to work. The company claimed N was not fit for work and requested N to agree to terminate the labor contract.

In your opinion, can Company M force worker N to terminate the contract?

If Company M unilaterally terminates the contract, what recourse does worker N have?

If you were a safety officer, how would you handle this according to the 2015 OSH Law?

• Company M cannot force worker N to terminate the contract.
• If the company unilaterally terminates, worker N has the right to file a complaint with the employer and, if unresolved, escalate to the Labor Inspectorate or file a labor lawsuit. The company violated employee rights under Point d, Clause 1, Article 6 of the 2015 OSH Law.
• Safety officers must report to labor inspectors if OSH violations are found at the workplace.

J. Question 10

Company Y organizes OSH training for its employees. The plan requires training 200 employees. However, due to production demands, only 50 employees were trained on-site, while the rest continued working. Later, all employees signed the attendance sheet and completed the test for record purposes.

Does this violate OSH training regulations?

Which legal document specifies detailed OSH training requirements?

If you were a safety officer, how would you handle it?

• This scenario violates OSH training regulations.
• Detailed regulations on OSH training are in Decree 44/2016/ND-CP dated May 15, 2016.
• According to Article 74 of the OSH Law, safety officers must monitor and propose full compliance with labor protection, including OSH training for employees.

K. Question 11

Company C operates in export garment production with approximately 500 workers, mainly sewing operators and some auxiliary staff. Technical staff includes 2 electricians, 1 mechanical maintenance worker, and 2 boiler operators.

On June 1, 2016, per customer request, Company C organized a 1-day OSH training for all employees. The content was prepared and delivered by HR in coordination with technical staff.

Does this training comply with legal regulations?

Which regulations govern OSH training in this case?

As a person advising on OSH training, how should you carry it out?

• Company C’s OSH training does not comply with the law.
• OSH training must comply with Decree 44/ND-CP, Government, dated May 15, 2016.
• Advising on OSH training should be done as follows:

1. 1. Group trainees according to regulations; workers handling tasks with strict OSH requirements (Appendix 1) are Group 3;
   2. Training must be conducted by qualified organizations. For Group 3, workers must be tested and certified after training.
   3. Training duration must follow prescribed schedules per group. Example: Group 4 – 16 hours, Group 3 – 30 hours.

L. Question 12

Facility Q operates in mechanical manufacturing with approximately 15 employees. The facility uses various machinery and equipment for production, including: lathes, milling machines, grinders, metal cutting machines, electric welding machines, gas welding sets (including gas, oxygen cylinders, and torch sets), and compressed air tanks used for painting.

According to you, which machines and equipment at Facility Q are listed as requiring strict occupational safety inspections under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs before being put into use? Which legal regulations apply?

For OSH training of workers at Facility Q, which regulations must be followed? Must these workers receive a training certificate?

Does the owner of Facility Q need to assign a qualified person to be a dedicated OSH officer?

• According to the list of machines, equipment, and materials requiring strict OSH compliance under Circular 05/2014, equipment such as compressed air tanks, oxygen cylinders, and gas cylinders are strictly regulated and must be inspected before use, with periodic inspections according to Circular 06/2014.
• OSH training for workers at Facility Q must be conducted in accordance with Government Decree 44/ND-CP dated May 15, 2016. The workers mainly perform tasks with strict OSH requirements (Group 3). After training, they must be examined and issued a training certificate.
• The owner of Facility Q must assign a qualified person as a dedicated OSH officer, based on Clause 1, Article 139 of the 2012 Labor Code.

---

PART 4: ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

1. OSH Training Service with Group 6 Certification

---

2. Group 6 OSH Test

• Group 6 OSH Multiple-Choice Test

---

3. OSH Training Service Price List

• See Details

---

APPENDIX 1: FRAMEWORK TRAINING PROGRAM IN GROUP 6 OSH DOCUMENTS

(Extracted from APPENDIX IV attached to Decree 44/2016/ND-CP)

The framework training program is designed for classes with no more than 120 students for theory sessions and no more than 40 students for practical sessions. Training organizations or enterprises may conduct separate classes for each group or combine groups with the same theoretical content.

Group 6 Framework Training Program

(After professional training for each specific task)

No.	TRAINING CONTENT	TRAINING DURATION (HOURS)
		Total	Including
			Theory	Practice	Examination
I	Skills and methods of OSH officers	3	3	0	0
II	Final OSH training assessment	1	1	0	0
Total		4	4

 

---

APPENDIX 2: CONTENT, FORM AND ORGANIZATION OF SELF-CHECK IN GROUP 6 OSH DOCUMENTS

(as per APPENDIX I of Circular 07/2016/TT-BLDTBXH dated May 15, 2016)

1. Content of inspection

• Implementation of OSH regulations such as: health checks, occupational disease screening, working hours, rest periods, in-kind allowances, reporting, accident statistics, risk assessment, OSH training, etc.;
• Records, manuals, rules, procedures, safety measures, inspection logs, and recommendations;
• Compliance with issued standards, regulations, and safety measures;
• Safety and hygiene of machinery, equipment, workshops, warehouses, and workplaces, e.g., guarding of hazardous areas, reliability of safety devices, heat/dust protection, lighting, ventilation, drainage;
• Use and maintenance of PPE, fire-fighting equipment, and medical emergency equipment;
• Implementation of OSH plans;
• Implementation of recommendations from inspection teams;
• Management of equipment, materials, and hazardous substances, and control of dangerous and harmful factors;
• OSH knowledge, emergency response, first aid, and medical aid skills of employees;
• Organization of meals, allowances, and employee health care;
• Self-inspection activities by subordinate units and handling of employee proposals/recommendations;
• Management responsibility for OSH and employee participation in OSH activities;
• Other contents suitable to the actual situation of the production/business facility.

2. Form of inspection

• Overall inspection of OSH content related to inspection authority;
• Specialized inspection of each OSH plan content;
• Inspection after long production breaks;
• Inspection before or after rainy/storm seasons;
• Inspection after incidents or major repairs;
• Periodic inspections for reminders or scoring for awards;
• Other inspection forms suitable to the facility’s situation.

3. Organization of inspection

To ensure effective self-inspection and avoid formalism, follow these steps:

1. Establish an inspection team: at enterprise and workshop level (or equivalent) for self-inspection; participants must be responsible personnel with OSH knowledge;
2. Hold a meeting to assign tasks and set inspection schedule;
3. Notify units or production groups of the inspection schedule;
4. Conduct inspection:
   • a) Workshop managers (if inspecting workshops) must report on OSH implementation to the inspection team, propose corrective measures, guide the team during site visits, answer questions, and follow team instructions;
   • b) All production areas and warehouses must be inspected.
5. Prepare inspection reports:
   • a) The team records observations and recommendations; issues requiring higher-level intervention are logged in the inspection report;
   • b) The inspection team leader and the unit head must sign the report.
6. Handle inspection results:
   • a) Units must make plans to address deficiencies within their control and submit to the inspection authority for follow-up;
   • b) Inspection authority must plan follow-up inspections, summarize responsibilities, and assign supporting units for implementation.
7. Notify all employees of self-inspection results.

---

APPENDIX 3: SAFETY AND HYGIENE OFFICER LOGBOOK IN GROUP 6 SAFETY DOCUMENTS

---

APPENDIX 4: SUMMARY OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT, AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (OSH)

(Updated to 10/07/2016)

No.	Document Number	Summary Content	Date of Issue	Effective Date	Issuing Agency	Notes
I. LAWS AND LABOR CODES
1	10/2012/QH13	Labor Code 2012. Regulates labor standards; rights, obligations, and responsibilities of employees, employers, representative labor organizations, and employer representative organizations in labor relations and other relations directly related to labor; state management of labor.	18/06/2012	01/05/2013	National Assembly
2	38/2013/QH13	Employment Law 2013. Regulates policies supporting job creation; labor market information; assessment and certification of national vocational skills; organization and operation of employment services; unemployment insurance; state management of employment.	16/11/2013	01/01/2015	National Assembly
3	74/2014/QH13	Vocational Education Law 2014. Regulates the vocational education system; organization and operation of vocational education institutions; rights and obligations of organizations and individuals participating in vocational education.	27/11/2014	01/07/2015	National Assembly
4	84/2015/QH13	Occupational Safety and Health Law 2015. Regulates ensuring occupational safety and hygiene; policies for victims of work accidents and occupational diseases; rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals related to OSH; state management of OSH.	25/06/2015	01/07/2016	National Assembly
II. DECREES AND GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
1	37/2016/NĐ-CP	Detailed regulations and guidance on implementing certain provisions of the OSH Law on compulsory insurance for work accidents and occupational diseases.	15/05/2016	01/07/2016	Government	Detailed guidance on implementing certain provisions of the OSH Law.
2	39/2016/NĐ-CP	Regulations on controlling hazardous and harmful factors at the workplace; reporting, investigating, and statistics on work accidents, technical incidents causing OSH risks; OSH for special workers and certain business establishments; state management of OSH.	15/05/2016	01/07/2016	Government	Detailed guidance on implementing certain provisions of the OSH Law.
3	44/2016/NĐ-CP	Regulations on OSH technical inspections; OSH training and labor environment monitoring.	15/05/2016	01/07/2016	Government	Detailed guidance on implementing certain provisions of the OSH Law.
4	11/2016/NĐ-CP	Detailed regulations on issuing work permits to foreign workers in Vietnam; expulsion of foreign workers without a permit.	03/02/2016	01/04/2016	Government	Replaces Decree 102/2013/NĐ-CP on foreign labor management.
5	88/2015/NĐ-CP	Amendments to Decree 95/2013/NĐ-CP on administrative penalties in labor, social insurance, and sending Vietnamese workers abroad under contract.	07/10/2015	25/11/2015	Government	Consolidated with 4756/VBHN-BLĐTBXH.
6	85/2015/NĐ-CP	Detailed regulations on Labor Code regarding policies for female workers.	01/10/2015	15/11/2015	Government
7	61/2015/NĐ-CP	Guidelines on labor export support, public employment policy, youth employment support, and the National Employment Fund.	09/07/2015	01/09/2015	Government
8	53/2015/NĐ-CP	Regulations on retirement at older ages for officials and public servants under Article 187(3) of the Labor Code.	29/05/2015	15/07/2015	Government
9	05/2015/NĐ-CP	Regulations on rights and responsibilities of employers, employees, collective labor organizations regarding labor contracts, collective bargaining, labor discipline, compensation, and dispute resolution.	12/01/2015	01/03/2015	Government	Guiding Circulars: 47/2015/TT-BLĐTBXH; 29/2015/TT-BLĐTBXH; 23/2015/TT-BLĐTBXH
10	12/VBHN-VPQH	Consolidated text of the 2015 Labor Code issued by the National Assembly Office.	31/12/2015	31/12/2015	Government Office

Download Group 6 Occupational Safety Training Document