So that work accidents are no longer a pain

Occupational accidents (OAs) leave serious consequences, not only causing workers to lose their health, ability to work, and even their lives, but also causing mental and economic losses for both their families and society.

Faced with the current situation of occupational accidents, recently, agencies, departments, sectors and organizations have implemented many practical activities to support victims of occupational accidents and raise awareness of occupational safety and hygiene (OSH).

PAIN OF WORK

In the case of Mr. Nguyen Van Teo (born in 1971), a worker at Li Chuan Food Company Limited (My Tho City, Tien Giang Province), he had to face a heartbreaking incident when a chemical tube suddenly broke and sprayed directly into his eyes while working. As a result, his left eye only had 1/10 vision, and his right eye had 3/10.

Comrade Le Minh Hung, Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor and Comrade Ly Van Cam, Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Tien Giang province visited and presented support to Mr. Nguyen Van Teo, a worker of Li Chuan Food Company Limited (My Tho City) who suffered a work accident on the occasion of Workers' Month 2025.

The accident made Mr. Teo's already difficult family even more difficult, as his wife suffered from many illnesses, was a freelancer, and had an unstable income. In addition, his only son also had a congenital heart disease and had to be hospitalized regularly for treatment.

Mr. Teo confided: “After the accident, I was very sad and worried. My biggest worry was not only my own future, but also my responsibility to my family, along with the fear that the company would fire me. However, my worries have somewhat lessened because during the treatment process for my occupational accident, the company has always supported the costs and maintained long-term care. Every year, I receive additional support from the company and benefactors.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thu, Chairwoman of the Grassroots Trade Union of Li Chuan Food Company Limited, said that when the accident happened to Mr. Teo, the company immediately took him to the emergency room and paid the hospital fees. After a year of treatment, Mr. Teo was assigned to return to work with lighter work, suitable for his health, and was paid the same salary as other workers. His colleagues also always supported Mr. Teo in his work and daily life.

Through Mr. Teo's work accident, Li Chuan Food Company Limited held a meeting with the Occupational Safety and Health Committee, the Board of Directors and the Company's Trade Union Executive Committee to reassess the risks, not only in Mr. Teo's work, but also in other work related to electricity, open circuits, etc.

The case of the occupational accident that happened to Mr. Teo was because he had only been working at the company for 4 months and there was some negligence, but the company still put the safety of the workers first. Therefore, the company quickly assessed, corrected the situation and organized occupational safety and health training for the workers, turning the incident into a lesson for all workers in the company's departments.

Another equally haunting case of work-related accident is that of Mr. Truong Dung Anh Tuan (born in 1978), a worker at Green Packaging Joint Stock Company. Mr. Tuan suffered a work-related accident due to carelessness while cleaning machinery and equipment, specifically using his bare hands to clean the machine.

At that time, the worker working with Mr. Tuan did not check the cleanliness of his machine carefully before starting it. As a result, while Mr. Tuan was still keeping his hand in the mixing tank, the machine's start switch was turned on, causing his hand to be sucked into the "chicken intestines" in the mixing tank.

The incident caused Mr. Tuan to have his right hand cut and crushed and lose four fingers, with a disability rate of up to 41%. He is currently on leave to receive treatment for his hand and the Green Packaging Joint Stock Company - where he works - is supporting the costs. Mr. Tuan's family is in a very difficult situation.

He is the main breadwinner, his wife does not have a stable income and has to take care of their first-year university child. The main source of income for Mr. Tuan’s family depends on his salary of 7 million VND/month. The work accident not only took away a part of Mr. Tuan’s body but also placed a heavy burden on his family.

TRADE UNION ACCOMPANIES VICTIMS OF WORK ACCIDENTS

Faced with the pain caused by occupational accidents, the role of authorities, especially the Trade Union, becomes extremely important. The Tien Giang Provincial Federation of Labor always shows its solidarity and deep concern for workers who suffer from occupational accidents.

Mr. Nguyen Van Teo, a worker at Li Chuan Food Company Limited (My Tho City) suffered a work accident that severely reduced his eyesight, but the company still created favorable conditions for him to work.

According to the Provincial Federation of Labor, every year, on the occasion of Lunar New Year and Workers' Month, all levels of the Union visit and give gifts to workers who have suffered occupational accidents. In particular, the regimes and benefits for workers in case of occupational accidents are guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of the 2015 Law on Occupational Safety and Health. In addition, the Union also visits according to the spending regulations of each unit and each level of the Union, demonstrating flexibility and close attention to each specific case.

In recent times, although the work of ensuring occupational safety and health has been focused on and achieved many important results, in 2024, Tien Giang province still had 208 occupational accidents, with 209 people injured.

There are many causes of occupational accidents, but one of the main causes is: Some employers have not strictly complied with legal regulations on occupational safety and health, fire prevention and fighting.

Some workers are still subjective in the work of checking, evaluating and identifying occupational safety and health risks. Many workers are still limited in skills and lack knowledge, so they do not comply with occupational safety and health regulations, leading to many tragic occupational accidents.

Chairman of the Tien Giang Provincial Federation of Labor Le Minh Hung said that with the role, function and task of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, ensuring occupational safety and health is always one of the important activities of the trade union organization. In recent times, trade unions at all levels in the province have actively participated with enterprises in developing and promulgating regulations on occupational safety and health.

At the same time, closely coordinate in the inspection and supervision of occupational safety and health at enterprises, paying special attention to identifying and assessing risks and proposing solutions to ensure occupational safety and health. The Union also supervises the implementation of occupational safety and health policies and regimes; monitors and manages the activities of the occupational safety and health network and participates in developing mechanisms and policies to ensure occupational safety and health; includes the content of the Collective Labor Agreement with points higher than those prescribed by law, aiming to reach the establishments and employees in the most practical way.

Every year, the Provincial Federation of Labor directs all levels of unions to innovate their activities, focus on the grassroots level, coordinate with the government and relevant agencies to strengthen inspection and examination of occupational safety and health. Every year, the grassroots level unions participate in the inspection of 40-70 enterprises. Propaganda work on occupational safety and health is also promoted in many forms.

Particularly during the annual Action Month on Occupational Safety and Health, the Provincial Federation of Labor organizes a Competition on Occupational Safety and Health - Fire Prevention and Fighting (25 times already) for union officials and occupational safety and health workers. In addition, the province has established a Center for Application of Science and Technology and Labor Protection Services, which has been operating stably for nearly 13 years...

Despite many positive results, the work of ensuring occupational safety and health still has some limitations. The team of union officials still lacks technical expertise, and is limited in identifying, evaluating and proposing solutions to prevent occupational accidents. Many small and medium-sized enterprises have not paid due attention to occupational safety and health work, and have not created conditions for employees to participate in training.

Grassroots union officials receive salaries from enterprises, so it is difficult to proactively propose opinions. Although the network of occupational safety and health workers has been established, in some places it is still a formality. Training and coaching on occupational safety and health has not gone into depth, lacks specific topics for each profession, and has not ensured compliance with regulations on time.

To improve the effectiveness of occupational safety and health work, in the coming time, trade unions at all levels will synchronously deploy many solutions. Trade unions will coordinate with employers to promote the "Green - Clean - Beautiful" movement; ensure occupational safety and health, and build a safety culture in the workplace.

The network of safety and hygiene workers needs to be guided to operate in an orderly and effective manner. The Executive Board of the Trade Union should strengthen dialogue with enterprises to promptly resolve issues related to working conditions and employee rights.

Trade unions at all levels need to monitor the implementation of occupational safety and health standards, encourage businesses to invest in improving the working environment, and fully implement policies such as occupational accident and disease insurance, working hours, protective equipment, in-kind compensation, and periodic health check-ups.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the team working on occupational safety and health, giving priority to staff with technical expertise and regular training. Every year, continue to effectively organize the Occupational Safety and Health Action Month and occupational safety and health propaganda competitions suitable for each target group.

With the efforts of the Trade Union, the cooperation of enterprises and employers, the awareness of ensuring safety at work of employees helps to reduce occupational accidents and diseases, and also contributes to building a safe, healthy and sustainable working environment, bringing a better life to employees and prosperous development for enterprises and society.

LY OANH

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/xa-hoi/202506/de-tai-nan-lao-dong-khong-con-la-noi-dau-1044735/