TKV: Prioritizing labor safety solutions

With the goal of "Safety for production, production must be safe", entering 2025, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (TKV) has synchronously deployed many solutions to improve the effectiveness of occupational safety and hygiene (OSH), focusing on promoting propaganda, raising awareness of safety autonomy in each worker and tightening inspection and supervision at production sites.

Leaders of Thong Nhat Coal Company inspect production area in the mine.

Right from the beginning of the year, TKV clearly identified: Sustainable production development must be associated with ensuring absolute safety for workers. Member units simultaneously implemented extensive propaganda programs on labor safety, bringing knowledge to each workshop and each miner; TKV also promoted training and coaching on skills to recognize and prevent unsafe risks, aiming to form a habit of self-control and safety in each worker.

One of the bright spots in occupational safety and health is Thong Nhat Coal Company - TKV. Currently mining underground coal at depths ranging from -140 to -35m, Thong Nhat Coal faces many challenges in terms of geological conditions and safety risks. However, the Company is determined to put occupational safety first in all production activities. With the goal of producing 2 million tons of raw coal in 2025, Thong Nhat Coal exploited 530,000 tons in the first quarter, reaching over 26% of the annual plan and is expected to continue exploiting 500,000 tons in the second quarter.

According to Mr. Doan Hai Nam, Deputy Director of Thong Nhat Coal Company - TKV, the output can be high, the plan can be urgent, but it is absolutely not at the expense of the safety of workers. The unit determines that safety in production is the lifeblood of the enterprise. Right from the beginning of the year, the Company has implemented many measures to improve safety such as regular maintenance and repair of equipment, launching a safe production competition movement, organizing training on field inspection skills and practicing methane gas and coal dust explosion prevention and control situations. The Company focuses on surprise inspections at production areas in shifts 2 and 3 to promptly detect and handle safety risks.

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of occupational accidents at Thong Nhat Coal decreased significantly compared to the same period last year, affirming the commitment to developing sustainable production associated with protecting people - the most valuable asset of the enterprise.

The inspection and supervision work of the whole Group has also been tightened more than ever. In the first quarter of 2025, TKV recorded 1 work accident causing 1 death, down 2 cases and 2 deaths compared to the same period in 2024. Units have proactively deployed many technical solutions such as optimizing ventilation systems, consolidating transport routes, installing additional automatic mine gas warning systems, strictly controlling the risk of methane gas explosions, coal dust and flooding in the mine. Not stopping there, fire prevention and fighting drills and emergency escapes in the mine are organized periodically, creating conditions for workers to practice practical response skills to dangerous situations.

Miners of Nam Mau Coal Company compete in production labor, strive to ensure safety, and complete the second quarter plan. *(Photo: Quoc Khuong - Contributor)*

In the second quarter of 2025, TKV continues to set the goal of maintaining and promoting the achievements. Member units are required to regularly review and detect safety risks early, while maintaining the routine of inspection and supervision of production sites. Propaganda and training on occupational safety and health continue to be promoted, with the motto "transforming from awareness to action".

At the meeting in mid-April 2025, TKV Deputy General Director Nguyen Van Tuan emphasized: “With the goal of minimizing the risk of safety incidents in the second quarter and the whole year of 2025, units need to focus on promoting propaganda work, raising awareness of safety autonomy, discipline and order for workers. Each worker must proactively identify risks, not waiting for reminders from superiors.”

The Group also requires units to maximize the role and responsibility of leaders in leadership and safety direction; regularly grasp the psychology of workers before each production shift; promote the application of 3 achievements (mechanization, automation, computerization) and digital transformation in safety monitoring and control; focus on ventilation and drainage for underground mining units and natural disaster prevention for open-pit mining units.

At the same time, TKV requires units to urgently review and perfect the labor safety and hygiene management mechanism, develop strict sanctions for safety violations, and be determined to ensure absolute safety in production and business, creating a solid foundation for successfully completing the 2025 targets.

Pham Tang

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