Occupational accidents: many and terrible

Occupational accidents: many and terrible

12:52' 11/03/2009 (GMT+7)

Construction and industry are the most dangerous fields for workers. VietNamNet Bridge – So far this year, the number of fatal occupational accidents has been on the rise. Last year, thousands of cases occurred, killing nearly 600 and injuring nearly 1,300 workers. According to a report of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, many serious cases were recorded so far this year. The most typical case happened on February 9, when a unicorn dance troupe in Phu An commune, Ben Cat district, the southern province of Binh Duong was electrocuted, with one person dead and 8 injured. Four workers died while they were building a road in Sop Cop district, the northern province of Son La on January 6, 2009 because of an landslide on the mountain. A methane explosion at Khe Cham coal mine, Quang Ninh province, on December 8, 2008 killed 11 and injured 22 workers. Occupational accidents are a big problem. According to reports from 63 provincial Departments of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, 5,836 occupational accidents happened last year, killing nearly 600 and injuring nearly 1,300 workers. Material losses was worth nearly VND200 billion ($11.76 million). The total absent days for victims of occupational accidents was around 197,500 days. Construction and industry were the most dangerous fields for workers. HCM City, Quang Ninh, Dong Nai and Hanoi had the highest number of occupational accidents. Over 20% of the cases were at the fault of employers, 35% by workers, and the remaining cases caused by objective reasons or no clear reason. VietNamNet/DT