Emergency Situation
Many Countries Have Government Agencies For Emergency Response And Population Protection
Jan
Faced with the risks of occupational accidents, many countries have established professional government agencies to respond and protect the population. The article “Many countries have government agencies for emergency response and population protection” will help you better understand the measures governments are taking, from strengthening occupational safety to supporting victims and families. We will explore the operating models of these organizations and the importance of ensuring international cooperation to minimize hazardous risks for workers.
I. The current situation of occupational accidents and their significant impacts on the health and lives of the population
The situation of occupational accidents (OA) in Vietnam in recent years has shown an increasing trend. According to statistics from the Department of Work Safety, Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2022, there were 7,718 OA cases nationwide, affecting 7,923 people, including 754 deaths. Compared to 2021, the number of OA cases increased by 18.66%, the number of victims increased by 18.99%, and the number of deaths decreased by 3.87%.
The significant impacts of OA on the health and lives of the population include:
- Direct impact on the health and lives of workers: OA can cause serious injuries to workers’ bodies, even leading to death. People affected by OA may face severe long-term effects, impacting their health, ability to work, and daily life.
- Impact on families and society: OA not only harms the workers but also affects their families and society. Families with workers affected by OA will face economic and mental difficulties. OA can also cause social instability, affecting security and order.
II. Strategies implemented by government agencies to minimize occupational accidents and protect workers
To minimize occupational accidents and protect workers, Government agencies for emergency response and population protection have implemented many strategies, including the following main ones:
- Developing and improving the legal system and regulations on occupational safety and health. This is a crucial foundation for ensuring worker safety. The legal system and regulations on occupational safety and health need to be developed and improved to be synchronous, comprehensive, practical, and meet the country’s socio-economic development requirements.
- Strengthening propaganda and education on occupational safety and health. Propaganda and education are important measures to raise workers’ awareness and consciousness about occupational safety and health. This work needs to be carried out regularly, continuously, with diverse forms and occupational safety training content, targeting all audiences, especially direct production workers.
- Strengthening inspection and examination of occupational safety and health. Inspection and examination are important measures to promptly detect and handle violations of occupational safety and health. This work needs to be carried out regularly, seriously, with focus, and linked to strict handling of violations.
- Increasing investment in occupational safety and health. Investment in occupational safety and health is necessary to equip personal protective equipment, improve working conditions, and minimize the risk of occupational accidents.
The above strategies have contributed to minimizing occupational accidents and protecting workers in Vietnam. However, it is necessary to continue to improve and effectively implement these strategies to achieve the goal of minimizing occupational accidents and building a safe and healthy working environment for workers.
III. Building safe infrastructure, providing a non-hazardous work environment, and the positive impacts on the population
Safe infrastructure is infrastructure built and operated according to safety standards, ensuring it does not pose a danger to people and the environment. A non-hazardous working environment is a work environment free from factors that are dangerous to the health and lives of workers.
Building safe infrastructure and providing a non-hazardous work environment have positive impacts on the population, specifically as follows:
- Ensuring the safety of life and health for the people
Safe infrastructure helps minimize the risks of accidents, injuries, and death for people. For example, a safe transportation system helps reduce traffic accidents, a safe electrical system helps reduce fires and explosions, and a safe water supply and drainage system helps protect public health from infectious diseases.
- Creating a healthy living and working environment
A non-hazardous work environment helps workers feel secure, enhancing labor productivity and quality of life. In addition, a safe work environment also helps minimize costs for businesses and society related to occupational accidents and diseases.
- Promoting socio-economic development
Safe infrastructure and a non-hazardous work environment are necessary conditions to attract investment and promote socio-economic development. Businesses and investors will choose to invest in locations with safe infrastructure and non-hazardous work environments. This will create more jobs, increase income for the people, and contribute to promoting socio-economic development.
IV. Support programs for occupational accident victims and provision of medical services for rehabilitation and health recovery
Medical services for occupational accident victims include examination, treatment, functional rehabilitation, health care, and health counseling. Government agencies for emergency response and population protection have set the goal of medical services to help occupational accident victims receive timely and effective treatment, recover their health and ability to work, and reintegrate into the community soon.
According to Vietnam’s Labor Laws and Regulations, workers who suffer occupational accidents are entitled to health insurance, social insurance, unemployment insurance, and other allowance regimes. These regimes include:
- Medical examination and treatment costs: Workers suffering occupational accidents are entitled to health insurance, receive examination and treatment at district-level or higher medical facilities, and are exempt from hospital fees.
- Allowance for workers with reduced working capacity: Workers suffering occupational accidents or occupational diseases are entitled to an allowance based on the degree of their reduced working capacity.
- Functional rehabilitation allowance: Workers suffering occupational accidents or occupational diseases are entitled to a functional rehabilitation allowance based on the degree of their reduced working capacity.
- Convalescence and health recovery allowance after treatment: Workers, after stable treatment for injuries from occupational accidents or occupational diseases, who return to work within the first 30 days but have not yet recovered their health, are entitled to leave for convalescence and health recovery for 5 to 10 days.
In addition, the State and social organizations also have many other support programs for occupational accident victims, such as:
- Programs to support costs for surgery, treatment, and functional rehabilitation for occupational accident victims in difficult circumstances.
- Programs to support training and career change for occupational accident victims with reduced working capacity.
- Programs to provide psychological support and health counseling for occupational accident victims and their families.
These support programs have contributed to helping occupational accident victims rehabilitate and recover their health, reintegrate into the community soon, and minimize the negative impacts of occupational accidents on the economy, society, and human resources.
V. New techniques and technologies applied to enhance occupational safety and minimize accident risks
Some new techniques and technologies commonly applied today include:
- Automation technology: Automation technology helps minimize human contact with hazardous factors in labor, thereby reducing accident risks. For example, in manufacturing plants, the use of automated robots to replace manual labor has significantly reduced accidents caused by falling heavy objects, impacts, electric shocks, etc.
- Information and communication technology: Information and communication technology is applied in occupational safety to enhance the efficiency of management, monitoring, and warning of accident risks. For example, occupational safety monitoring systems using cameras and sensors can help detect accident risks early and provide timely warnings to workers.
- New materials technology: New materials technology is applied to produce personal protective equipment with high durability and better protection for workers. For example, helmets, gloves, and protective shoes made from composite materials have better impact resistance, fire resistance, and water resistance than traditional materials.
The application of new techniques and technologies in occupational safety has brought positive effects, contributing to a significant reduction in the number of occupational accidents. However, to maximize efficiency, close coordination is needed among state management agencies, businesses, and workers.
Below are some specific solutions that government agencies for emergency response and population protection promote to apply new techniques and technologies in occupational safety:
- The State needs to continue to promote research, development, and application of new techniques and technologies in occupational safety.
- Businesses need to have plans to invest in and apply new techniques and technologies appropriate to their specific production and business characteristics.
- Workers need to be trained and instructed on new techniques and technologies in occupational safety to use them effectively and safely.
VI. The importance of international cooperation in sharing information, experience, and resources to minimize occupational accidents globally
Occupational accidents are a global problem, affecting workers in every country and every sector. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 2.3 million people die annually from occupational accidents and diseases. This is an alarming figure, causing enormous economic, social, and humanitarian losses.
International cooperation is a crucial solution to minimize occupational accidents globally. International cooperation helps countries share information, experience, and resources in the field of occupational safety and health.
Regarding information sharing, international cooperation helps countries update the latest information on occupational accident risks and effective prevention measures. This information can be shared through international conferences, workshops, technical documents, training programs, etc.
Regarding experience sharing, international cooperation helps countries learn from each other’s successful experiences in preventing occupational accidents. These experiences can be shared through visits, surveys, cooperative projects, etc.
Regarding resource sharing, international cooperation helps countries mobilize the necessary resources to implement occupational accident prevention programs and projects. These resources can include finances, equipment, experts, etc.
In practice, international cooperation has achieved positive results in minimizing occupational accidents globally. For example, the ILO has supported many countries in developing and implementing occupational accident prevention programs, contributing to reducing the number of accidents and casualties.
For international cooperation in occupational safety and health to be more effective, joint efforts from countries, international organizations, and social organizations are needed. Countries need to enhance the exchange of information, experience, and resources in this field. International organizations need to continue supporting countries in developing and implementing occupational accident prevention programs and projects. Social organizations need to raise the awareness of workers and employers about occupational safety and health.
VII. The roles of the government, workers, and stakeholders in building a safe work environment, ensuring health for the entire labor community
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental right of workers, recognized in international conventions and the laws of many countries, including Vietnam. To build a safe work environment and ensure health for the entire labor community, close coordination among stakeholders is required, including the government, workers, and other related parties.
Role of the government
Government agencies for emergency response and population protection play an important role in building a safe work environment and ensuring workers’ health. Specifically, the government has the following roles:
- Issuing and enforcing legal regulations on occupational safety and health (OSH). OSH legal regulations are the legal basis for building, operating, and controlling a safe and healthy working environment.
- Organizing and implementing propaganda and education on OSH for workers and employers. Propaganda and education are important measures to raise awareness and compliance with OSH laws among workers and employers.
- Organizing inspections and examinations of OSH law compliance. Inspection and examination are important measures to detect and handle OSH law violations, contributing to the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases.
- Supporting workers affected by occupational accidents and diseases. The government is responsible for supporting workers affected by occupational accidents and diseases in terms of medical care, social insurance, vocational training, employment, etc.
Role of workers
Workers also have an important role in building a safe and healthy work environment. Specifically, workers have the following roles:
- Complying with legal regulations on OSH. Workers need to be aware of their rights and obligations in implementing OSH legal regulations.
- Participating in propaganda and education activities on OSH. Workers should actively participate in OSH propaganda and education activities to raise awareness of the importance of OSH.
- Participating in monitoring OSH implementation at the workplace. Workers have the right to participate in monitoring OSH implementation at the workplace to promptly detect and propose remedies for risks causing occupational accidents and diseases.
Role of other stakeholders
Besides the government and workers, other stakeholders such as trade unions, businesses, business associations, etc., also have an important role in building a safe and healthy work environment for workers. Specifically:
- Trade unions have the role of representing and protecting the legal and legitimate rights and interests of workers, including the right to work in a safe and healthy environment.
- Businesses are responsible for ensuring occupational safety and health for workers. Businesses need to build and implement an OSH management system, provide adequate personal protective equipment, and organize OSH training and instruction for workers.
- Business associations have the role of propagating and encouraging businesses to properly implement legal regulations on OSH.
VIII. An Toan Nam Viet’s Occupational Safety Training Capacity
An Toan Nam Viet is a prestigious and high-quality center specializing in occupational safety training (in many different languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean….) in Vietnam today. With occupational safety training sessions held continuously at factories, plants, or construction sites across the country (63 provinces in Vietnam).
REGISTER FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY TRAINING SERVICE
Occupational safety training license
- An Toan Nam Viet has been inspected and granted a certificate of eligibility for occupational safety and health training activities by the Department of Work Safety of the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs. This further strengthens our capacity to conduct occupational safety training.
Documents and lectures
- Before occupational safety training materials are used in OSH training courses, they have been reviewed and censored to ensure that the lectures are always accurate in terms of knowledge and effective when applied.
- The teaching methods of the lecturers are standardized according to An Toan Nam Viet’s teaching standards, which is a method that experts in occupational safety and health training have researched and consolidated during the teaching process to bring the highest knowledge acquisition efficiency for students.
Facilities
- Controlling factors in the classroom that affect the training process will increase teaching efficiency and student knowledge acquisition.
- Our training course support facilities always provide spacious classrooms that meet standards for area, lighting, training equipment, etc.
IX. Nationwide Workplace Environment Monitoring Center
Nam Viet’s Workplace Environment Monitoring Center is a professional unit specializing in monitoring and measuring the quality of the working environment across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports clients in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” we always bring customer satisfaction, meet all customer needs, and commit to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in techniques, technology, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has become one of the reputable units in the field of workplace environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide customers with the best and most suitable things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced Masters and Engineers with expertise and a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to the Nam Viet Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will get the best cost incentives.
The process of conducting workplace environment monitoring at Nam Viet includes the following basic steps:
- Before conducting workplace environment monitoring, our company always ensures that machinery and equipment for monitoring are calibrated and standardized according to legal regulations.
- Correctly and fully implement the workplace environment monitoring process as committed to the Department of Health.
- Truthfully report the workplace environment monitoring results to the employer.
- In cases where the monitoring results do not ensure safety for employees, Nam Viet company will support proposing remedial solutions, and the labor facility will implement the following:
- Implement measures to improve working conditions to minimize the impact of harmful factors and prevent occupational diseases.
- Organize health check-ups to detect occupational diseases and work-related illnesses early for employees in positions with unsafe working environments.
- Provide in-kind benefits to employees according to labor laws.
