Proactive risk control

Present at the training ground of the 86th Chemical Brigade (Chemical Corps), we witnessed officers and soldiers of Battalion 902 carrying out training on handling leaked toxic chemicals in areas with equipment. As soon as the incident was detected and orders were received from superiors, the reconnaissance team in mobile chemical protective clothing arrived at the scene, used toxic measuring equipment, cordoned off the area and reported the situation. After a few minutes, special equipment was quickly deployed to carry out decontamination and detoxification in the identified area. After completing the task, the forces proceeded to clean the chemical protective clothing, vehicles and organized the soldiers to take a shower and disinfect. The training process was carried out accurately, urgently and absolutely safely.

The 86th Chemical Brigade trains to handle chemical spills.

This is one of the hypothetical situations that the 86th Brigade commander regularly conducts training for so that soldiers are proficient and ready to go when a real situation arises, contributing significantly to avoiding risks that may occur during the performance of tasks.

Taking off the MV5 gas mask from his sweaty face, Captain Le Hoang Vu, Captain of Company 4, Battalion 902, shared: “In hot and humid training ground conditions and with the requirement to wear thick and tight protective clothing, the force directly performing chemical defense tasks must have a firm grasp of technical procedures and plans to handle incidents that arise during training to ensure absolute safety for people and equipment.”

Conduct decontamination of areas where chemical toxins are detected.

Along with mastering the skills of using equipment and weapons, coordination exercises between positions are always focused on, ensuring that the response process takes place quickly, accurately, effectively and absolutely safely. Talking to us, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hieu, Deputy Brigade Commander of Brigade 86 emphasized: “The specific mission of the unit is to handle toxic chemicals, so the risk of fire, explosion and exposure is always present. Therefore, ensuring occupational safety and hygiene (OSH) is a key content of all training and combat readiness plans (SSCD). The Brigade regularly organizes training, practical exercises, updates new technical processes and proactively improves equipment and protective gear to suit specific situations.”

Not only at the training ground but also on ships carrying out patrolling, controlling, and protecting the sovereignty and security of the maritime border in the Northeastern sea and island region of the Fatherland, officers and employees of Border Guard Squadron 2 (Border Guard of Quang Ninh Province) face the risk of insecurity every day.

The high-speed patrol boat BP 01-01-10 of the Border Guard Squadron 2 regularly operates in the sea, islands of Co To, Van Don, Mong Cai... Each trip can last for many consecutive days in conditions of big waves and strong winds. To ensure the completion of the task well and with absolute safety, before going to sea, officers and employees of the Border Guard Squadron 2 always strictly follow the instructions and plans of superiors on ensuring occupational safety and health.

Check the ship's engine before going to sea to perform tasks at Border Guard Squadron 2.

According to Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Ba Quan, Captain in charge of Ship BP 01-01-10, in bad weather conditions, the seafaring force must carefully study the situation and weather conditions such as wind direction, wind speed, terrain of the operating area and the level of danger of wind and waves affecting the ship. The ship's commander also thoroughly instructed all officers and employees to strictly comply with safety regulations, especially the use of personal accident prevention equipment. Along with that, the ship also deployed 24/24-hour watch, increased observation to be ready to alert and handle promptly when problems occur.

Lieutenant Colonel QNCN Pham Ba Dat, Chief Engineer of Ship BP 01-01-10 shared: “For ships and boats at sea, machinery operates at high intensity in humid and salty conditions, so there is a risk of damage and fire. Therefore, we never have a negligent or subjective mentality. In addition to checking before and after each trip, the technical team also conducts monthly maintenance, promptly detecting abnormalities in the pipeline system, valves, water and oil equipment, etc. At the same time, we follow the correct procedures and steps when operating, ensuring smooth operation of the machine. Along with that, we also fully participate in training sessions, drills on fire and explosion situations, rescue, and incident handling to respond flexibly in all situations.”

Linking safety with combat readiness

It is known that ensuring occupational safety and health in training, combat readiness and the operation of weapons and technical equipment is not only a responsibility but also a vital factor for special units such as Brigade 86 and Border Guard Squadron 2. Every year, Brigade 86 develops and implements an occupational safety and health plan, focusing on assessing dangerous and harmful factors at the workplace, thereby building procedures and measures to ensure occupational safety and health associated with training and combat readiness, contributing to preventing and minimizing accidents and unsafe incidents for officers and soldiers.

Practice disinfecting uniforms for officers and soldiers of Brigade 86.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hieu, the Brigade also focuses on improving professional skills, occupational safety and health techniques, and working skills of soldiers, especially those working in conditions with strict occupational safety and health requirements, and in training new soldiers. In 2024, the Brigade provided occupational safety and health training to 98 comrades, issued occupational safety cards to 76 comrades in the group of workers working in conditions with strict occupational safety and health requirements; inspected 100% of equipment with strict safety requirements such as chemical pumps, disinfection equipment, air filtration systems, etc.

Thanks to that, the quality and efficiency of occupational safety and health work of Brigade 86 is increasingly improved, ensuring absolute safety in training, practice, and labor; weapons and equipment always meet technical safety coefficients when used.

As for the Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard, safety assessment has long been a part of the competition criteria and unit quality assessment. In 2024, Border Guard Squadron 2 achieved an absolute safety rate in ship operations, no work accidents, and no violations of technical procedures.

Ensuring smooth operation of machinery plays an important role in performing patrol, control and combat readiness training tasks at Border Guard Squadron 2.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hieu, Deputy Squadron Leader, said: “Before carrying out a mission, the unit always develops and implements a safety plan associated with training, combat readiness, and patrolling and controlling at sea. Every month, the Squadron organizes firefighting drills on ships, handles fuel leaks, coordinates first aid and lifesaving. In addition, every quarter, training in safe machine operation skills and drowning prevention is organized for all officers and employees.”

From the practical activities of Brigade 86 and Border Guard Squadron 2, it can be seen that ensuring occupational safety and health is no longer a supporting factor, but increasingly makes an important contribution to improving the training efficiency and combat readiness of the units. To continue promoting the achieved results, the units need to continue to improve the quality of occupational safety and health training close to combat reality, and synchronously invest in modern protective equipment. In particular, special attention is paid to ideological education, building the right awareness for officers, employees and soldiers about the role of occupational safety and health in performing tasks.

Article and photos: LE HIEU

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/gan-an-toan-ve-sinh-lao-dong-voi-san-sang-chien-dau-830219