Periodic health check-ups, early detection of occupational diseases for workers

Occupational diseases are diseases caused by working conditions as well as harmful factors in the production process, causing negative impacts on the health of workers. In recent times, along with implementing activities to ensure occupational safety and hygiene, enterprises in the province have paid attention to organizing periodic health check-ups, early detection of occupational diseases to arrange reasonable work, and have effective treatment directions for workers.

Viet Phat Embroidery Garment Joint Stock Company (Nam Truc) cooperates with medical facilities to conduct periodic health check-ups for employees.

Dr. Phan Van Tung, Head of the Department of Occupational Health (Provincial Center for Disease Control) said: To detect early and limit occupational diseases, it is necessary to monitor the working environment regularly, fully and accurately to find solutions to improve and create a better working environment; at the same time, organize periodic health check-ups for workers to help detect early health abnormalities before they turn into diseases or diseases that are in the early stages, not yet manifested. Detecting diseases at an early stage makes treatment easier, more effective, saves costs and avoids complications that seriously affect health.

According to State regulations, enterprises employing laborers must organize periodic health examinations for employees, including apprentices and trainees, at least once a year; for those doing heavy and toxic work, at least once every 6 months; female employees must have gynecological examinations; people exposed to occupational disease risk factors must be examined to detect occupational diseases; employees who have work-related accidents or occupational diseases must be medically assessed to classify their injuries, determine the level of reduced working capacity, and receive treatment, care, and rehabilitation... Currently, the State stipulates that there are 34 occupational diseases covered by social insurance, including 7 diseases in the pneumoconiosis group, 10 diseases in the toxic group, 6 diseases in the physical factor group, 5 diseases in the skin group, 5 diseases in the infectious group, and 1 disease in the cancer group. There are many causes of occupational diseases such as the influence of harmful factors that are not well controlled during the labor process (physical, chemical, biological, etc.) that directly affect workers.

In order to ensure the rights of workers, every year, the Provincial People's Committee directs functional branches and localities to synchronously deploy measures to propagate, guide and urge units and enterprises to strictly implement the provisions of the law on occupational safety and hygiene, prevention of occupational diseases and accidents; and provide periodic health examinations for workers. The Department of Health and functional branches regularly coordinate to inspect, disseminate, guide and train employers and workers on occupational safety and hygiene management, occupational health care and prevention of occupational diseases. Inspect and examine units and enterprises that employ workers; detect, warn and guide employers to overcome potential risks of occupational accidents and diseases for workers. Most enterprises, especially large enterprises with a large number of employees, actively implement regulations on occupational safety and hygiene, improve working conditions, organize periodic health check-ups for employees, and detect occupational diseases for heavy and high-risk laborers. Every year, the number of units and enterprises in the province organizing periodic health check-ups for employees and the number of employees receiving periodic health check-ups increases. Typical examples include: Song Hong Garment Joint Stock Company, Youngone Nam Dinh Garment Co., Ltd. (Hoa Xa Industrial Park), Maxport Limited Co., Ltd., Garment Joint Stock Company 1 (Nam Dinh Textile and Garment Corporation); Padmac Vietnam Co., Ltd., Sumi Vietnam Wiring System Co., Ltd. - Bao Minh Industrial Park (Vu Ban); Golden Victory Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Nghia Hung); Viet Power Company Limited, Hai Minh Commune (Hai Hau)... According to the leader of Sumi Vietnam Wire System Company Limited, in order to have a healthy, long-term workforce, improve productivity and labor efficiency, the Company pays special attention to taking care of the lives of workers. Along with constantly increasing income for workers, the Company organizes periodic health check-ups for workers according to regulations; if a worker is found to have a disease, the worker will be transferred to a specialized medical facility for treatment, and any worker whose health is not guaranteed for the current job position will be transferred to another department to work in a position suitable for their health. The Company provides full protective clothing for workers; the cafeteria and meals ensure food safety. Some businesses such as: Golden Victory Vietnam Company Limited (Nghia Hung); Viet Power Company Limited, Hai Minh Commune (Hai Hau) have implemented the model "Your Health". Thereby, the Provincial Labor Federation coordinated with medical units to organize free health check-ups and consultations for workers, integrating propaganda on knowledge of occupational safety and hygiene, the movement to maintain a green - clean - beautiful working environment, and the movement to protect the environment.

In addition to the achieved results, the work of taking care of workers' health, periodic health examinations, and preventing occupational diseases for workers in the province still faces many difficulties. According to statistics from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, from the beginning of 2022 to present, the whole province has had 95,779 workers undergoing periodic health examinations. As a result, 28,672 people have type I health; 52,262 people have type II health; 13,262 people have type III health; 1,396 people have type IV health and 232 people have type V health. Among the thousands of workers who were examined and detected with occupational diseases, there were 7 cases of occupational diseases, who were consulted, treated promptly and assigned suitable jobs. However, health examinations for workers are only carried out in a number of large-scale enterprises, some small and medium-sized enterprises have not really paid due attention. Many small businesses, production and business establishments have not done a good job of occupational safety and hygiene, have not paid due attention to the health care of workers, have not conducted periodic health check-ups, and have not examined occupational diseases for workers. There are still situations where workers work in environments and conditions that are not guaranteed to be hygienic and safe, do not have reasonable rest; the work regime and intensity are too stressful, leading to occupational diseases. A number of workers do not fully understand the factors and occupational hazards in the working environment, and during the production process, are still subjective and indifferent in protecting their own health, and do not use labor protection when working. It is noteworthy that in craft villages, traditional craft villages, especially mechanical, wood processing, and bamboo and rattan craft villages, many workers work long hours in environments with too much dust and noise, but many people still do not use masks, glasses and protective gloves during work, so they have suffered from lung, hearing and skin diseases due to inhalation of heavy metal dust, chemicals, etc.

The health of workers is one of the factors that determine the quality, productivity and efficiency of a business. Taking care of the health of workers is taking care of the biggest "asset" of a business. Therefore, along with doing a good job of occupational safety and hygiene at the business, conducting periodic health check-ups for workers is not only implementing State regulations but also an effective measure to ensure the "health capital" of the business. The authorities need to continue to promote propaganda and dissemination of regulations on the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers in ensuring occupational safety and hygiene; preventing occupational diseases. Strengthening the State management of occupational safety and hygiene, inspection, examination and handling of violations of occupational safety and hygiene, and health care policies for workers. Each worker needs to equip themselves with knowledge, raise awareness of complying with labor safety rules, and implement labor protection regulations to protect their health./.

Article and photos: Minh Tan

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