This project sponsored by the Japanese government, was launched on May 17th 2004 and sought to improve occupational safety and health in the Agricul tural sector in Viet Nam through policy development at the central level and innovative implementation at local levels. With technical expertise pro vided by the International La· bour Organization (ILO) as managing partner, the project has been a cooperative effort through the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Mfairs (MOLISA), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam Co-operatives Association, Viet Nam Farmers Association, Viet Nam Women's Union and other concerned agencies.
Currently Ha Nam, Nghe An, Can Tho and Hau Giang provinces have been beneficia ries of the project.
After one year, all of the initial objectives have been successfully completed under the super vision of MOLISA.
One of the three objectives of the project has been to formulate national policies and a legal framework to encourage farmers to improve their working conditions. In response, MOLISA de veloped a draft policy in July 2004 titled 'The National Pro gram for Occupational Safety and Health', this was fine-tuned for the National Information Network about Occupational Safety and Health Conference in De cember 2004 in Ha Noi, and further still for the ASEAN -OSHnet in Ha Long, Quang Ninh province in March 2005.
In February 2005, MOLISA created a taskforce comprising 21 experts from 18 concerned or ganizations and agencies to develop the "National Occupation al Safety and Health Profile". Initial data have been used in developing the national program, and it is hoped by the end of 2005, Government will ratify the program. A draft of the program's objectives is currently under re view by members of the Nation al Committee for Labour Protection.
Concurrently, all the program objectives have been completed by specialist taskforces at local level. Members of these groups were trained in a short course in Can Tho in September 2004 and have since returned to become trainers in Occupation al Safety and Health in their own localities.
The Project is also develop ing training materials. Part of which is the WIND program that covers five topics:
1. Agricultural product transportation.
2. Safety in using Electricity and Mechanical equipment.
3. Organizing workplaces in safe and healthy way.
4. Working environment and safety in handling chemicals,
5. Welfare.
Leaflets, booklets, and manuals provide basic information about Occupational Safety and Health and the WIND program also includes case studies that show practical, low-cost solutions that use locally available materials. Hundreds of images show ing the positive results of incorporating Occupational Safety and. Health measures are part ofthis program.
To date there have been 8 pilot classes in WIND program for 244 farmers. From this 275 initiatives were recorded:
- 58 in agricultural products transportation.
- 16 in using electricity and machinery.
- 76 in reorganizing workplace.
- 50 in improving the working environment and using chemicals safely.
- 75 in welfare.
The improvement process starts with simple activities like proper storage of food, materials and tools, with later changes to the working environment can be sug gested to prevent illnesses and ac cidents, for example; the use of guards or shields over moving parts, or the safe storage and us age of chemicals.
In April 2005, meetings were held at all four provinces to make a preliminary assessment the project. Each meeting involved about 50 participants from the provincial, district and village levels. Farmers with special initiatives were also invited to present their ideas. The OSH trammg classes proved to be very successful and in high demand by farmers, so much so the members of the taskforce could not keep up and recruited volunteer farmers to help with training. A program to help train volunteers was organized in Nghe An from 8th to 16th June 2005. All members of the taskforces participated in this session.
Initially it is expected that about 20 volunteers in each province can be trained by the task forces with hopes to expand the volunteer network in due course.
Initial results of the project have documented relevant experiences and case studies, and provided useful data to improve OSH in the agricultural sector in Viet Nam. | 