A lack of labour-safety awareness is the main cause of more deaths occurring in the workplace in recent months, according to inspectors of the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The most recent labour accident involved a five-tonne block of concrete falling and killing three workers.The accident occurred at the Yuki Viet Nam Factory construction site in the city's District 7 on July 20.

The department's inspectors and police have been investigating the cause of the accident.

In another accident on July 10, Bui Van Long died while he and his colleagues were demolishing a concrete slab in District 9.

On July 5, two workers were electrocuted while drilling concrete.

According to the department's report, 48 people have died of labour accidents since the beginning of this year compared to 43 fatalities during the same period last year.

The number of fatalities at construction sites accounted for more than 70 per cent this year, while 50 per cent occurred in the same period last year.

Nguyen Quoc Viet, deputy head of the department's inspectorate, said they had disseminated brochures on labour safety to employees and employers in order to improve awareness.

They had also increased the number of checks at construction sites and enterprises as well as small production units.

However, the number of deaths from labour accidents at construction sites has not fallen.

Huynh Tan Dung, head of the inspectorate, said the trend was alarming, adding that most builders violated regulations at construction sites of tall buildings, including no guard nets or measures to guard against electrical-power accidents.

Moreover, at many construction sites, there were no electricians to ensure safety, he added.

Workers' awareness on labour safety was still low and many workers did not wear protective working clothes, helmets, shoes and belts at construction sites.

In addition, employers often ignored regulations, Dung said.

Viet said companies balked at providing safety equipment and clothing because of the expense.

Some workers are also not aware of their rights to have such gear and clothing.

In Ha Noi, more and more workers have died due to labour accidents. Twenty-four workers have been killed since the beginning of this year, including 80 per cent at construction sites, according to Ha Noi's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' inspectors.

A shortage of inspectors was also one of the chief causes for the increase of labour accidents, said Nguyen Van Tien, head of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' inspection office.

The country has 470 inspectors, including nearly 120 who specialise in labour safety.

With 350,000 enterprises and thousands of construction works that have been awarded licences, inspectors are unable to manage all of the construction sites.

Among these, only 3,000 enterprises and hundreds of construction works are checked per year.

He said although the Government had approved the increase of the number of inspectors, particularly for labour safety, the shortage still existed.

According to Tien, 1,500 inspectors could meet the demand.

In addition to the inspector shortage, the fines are still low, leading to ineffectiveness in deterring violators.

According to Viet, if employees and employers do not become more aware of labour safety, the number of accidents and deaths will continue to rise.

Source: VNS