VietNamNet Bridge – The shortage of labour inspectors is to blame for the failure to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases, the Department of Labour Safety has said in a report.

As of last year, as much as 27,515 employees were suffering from occupational diseases like lung conditions caused by exposure to silica and deafness.—Photo hepza

The report shows there were more than 3,300 accidents in the first six months of this year, 262 more than in the same period of last year.

More than 300 workers were killed.

More than half of them occurred because employers flouted labour safety and hygiene regulations, and the rest due to workers' violations.

Only 37 per cent of companies in the country obey regulations.

Most do not use preventive methods to safeguard workers from accidents or monitor the environment for safety.

Occupational diseases also show an upward trend because many employers do not pay attention to the working environment.

As of last year, as much as 27,515 employees were suffering from occupational diseases like lung conditions caused by exposure to silica and deafness.

At a workshop held on Monday to discuss improvement of safety and hygiene at the workplace and qualifications for labour inspectors, Ha Tat Thang, the department's head, said violations of safety and hygiene regulations are not discovered in the time to prevent accidents and occupational diseases.

Nguyen Anh Tho, Thang's deputy, said there are only 455 labour inspectors to oversee the country's 700,000 companies.

Of them, only 50 have professional knowledge of labour safety and hygiene, he said.

Thang said the department has petitioned the Government to take measures to improve both the number and quality of inspectors.

A law on labour safety and hygiene is essential for creating a legal basis to improve inspections, he said.

It is expected the law will come into effect by mid-2015, he added.

Source: VNS