Some comments on occupational safety and hygiene after recent occupational accidents in the Coal industry

Main causes of work-related accidents

On July 29, 2024, at Suoi Lai mine, Hon Gai Coal Company had a work accident that killed 5 workers. Previously, on 3/4, 2024, a methane gas fire occurred at Thong Nhat Coal Company, killing 4 workers and injuring 7 others. On July 27, 2024, at Khe Cham Coal Company, an underpass accident killed a worker. In general, these accidents have 3 main causes: fire, explosion, collapse and water leveling.

In addition, we must also recognize that Vietnam's coal mining technology has not caught up with the world's advanced technology, and workers' awareness of labor safety is still limited, including violations in labor management and production by employers... all of which affect occupational safety and health.

The consequences of labor accidents are not only the lives of workers themselves, the costs of compensation, remediation of consequences, search and rescue for coal mining enterprises, but also leave pain for the families of victims and pillars in the family. Not only that, the consequences could also put those involved in the dark.

Always think about safety before work

In the immediate future, the authorities need to strengthen inspection, examination, self-inspection, supervision, early detection of occupational safety risks, promptly handling violations in coal mining activities, minimizing the number of accidents, deaths, injuries or occupational diseases.

On the TKV side, it is necessary to immediately review regulations, standards, exploitation and operation procedures of mines, promptly overcome limitations, and ensure absolute safety for workers.

TKV also needs to conduct basic geological and mineral investigation activities, observe geological disasters, explore minerals, have solutions to handle dangerous and harmful factors, assess risks, effectively prevent incidents, work accidents and occupational diseases in the coal mining industry.

The exploitation process needs to focus on monitoring, supervising, and evaluating changes in the structure of coal mines and mines, and periodically inspecting the safety of equipment and when there are signs of damage.

TKV needs to thoroughly disseminate to employees measures to ensure occupational safety and health; proactively implement solutions to prevent occupational accidents, control, identify dangerous factors at the workplace, create a safe working environment, build culture and safe working style, always think about safety before working, follow the correct procedures, do not do shortening or reckless work but still ensure labor productivity.

Another issue is to strengthen propaganda and training on policies, laws on working safety processes, regulations and measures in mines; identify risks, develop measures to eliminate risks and incidents; raise awareness, sense of self-reliance and safety and skills to comply with labor safety for each worker and production team; instruct skills when traveling, working, controlling each other in the mine.

Pay attention to health care, medical examination and treatment for workers, and strengthen social security policies. Rectify and learn from incidents and work accidents, take measures to prevent storms and floods, be ready for search and rescue, and avoid catastrophic accidents (with a large number of casualties).

Invest in technological innovation, apply advanced and modern production technologies, promote the application of science and technology in exploitation, mechanization, automation in production lines, reduce human resources, reduce direct exposure of workers to risks and risks.

Promote the application of information technology, automatic equipment for controlling ventilation, mined gas, and preventing endogenous fires. Equip yourself with handheld metering equipment (CH4) and fixed measuring devices to communicate digital to the production control room, promptly handling arising situations.

TKV should also resolutely eliminate technologies with high safety risks, invest in innovating technology, machinery, equipment, and replacing old, outdated equipment that does not ensure labor safety. Build a model of a mine emergency center, risk management with 4.0 technology to minimize incidents.

Improve working capacity and working skills for officers working in occupational safety and health, from full-time and part-time officers to occupational safety and hygiene officers; review and complete procedures, regulations, and safety technical records; prepare incident response plans, search and rescue, fire prevention and fighting, and natural disaster prevention. Organize a system of departments for occupational safety and health work from the Group level to member units with specialized officers for occupational safety and health.

Strengthen the management of machinery, equipment, vehicles, port warehouses, and yards, promptly detect and handle landslide risks, especially during the rainy and flood season. Strengthen skills in commanding, directing production, managing and operating machinery and equipment, detecting and handling unsafe risks.

TKV needs to further enhance the role of the Trade Union in occupational safety and health work, while perfecting the occupational safety and hygiene network to ensure quantity and quality.

Safety autonomy work always has 5 principles, which are to protect yourself, protect teammates, if you don't understand, ask, if you don't know, don't do, comply with technical safety regulations. Making labor safety one of the criteria for reward and punishment during the production process. The multiple-choice test to learn about occupational safety knowledge helps workers improve their knowledge and awareness of safety autonomy.

In addition, TKV also needs to increase lighting, ensure grid safety, strictly control the process of excavating coal, soil and rock and soil and transportation, prevent the risk of landslides, drill and detect water abscesses, manage electrical equipment, clear axes, trains... Renovate environmental landscapes, industrial hygiene, regular environmental sanitation, plant more trees...