Construction of first Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Training Centre kicks off in Laos

IndusTek Company Limited. on Friday broke ground for the construction of Laos’ first Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Training Centre, designed to provide job-related safety training to benefit both employers and employees.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in Nakuay Kang village in Xaysettha district, Vientiane, and was attended by senior government officials and business representatives.
Those present included Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mr Phongxaysack Inthalath; Deputy Director General of the ministry’s Labour Management Department, Mr Oudone Maniboune; Managing Director of IndusTek Co., Ltd., Mr Phonesavanh Xaypanya; Managing Director of UniqTek Co., Ltd., Mr Chandavong Southitham; and Managing Director of the NPC Safety and Environmental Service, Mr Prakart Buttamart.
Mr Phonesavanh said IndusTek Company Ltd. is a leading supplier of safety equipment and industrial supplies, and the largest supplier of general personal protective equipment for occupational safety and health in Laos. The company also provides environmental measurement and consultation services for improvement of workplace environments that contain high concentrations of dust, chemicals, noise, light, or heat that cause illness or disease. Proper measurements and technically accurate diagnosis of the work environment can lead to the proper elimination and control of hazardous sources in the workplace.
“Our ambition is to build this Centre to help create an occupational, health and environmental safety culture in Laos. This is very important for the country’s sustainable socio-economic development because safety and environmentally sound workplaces are always more productive and profitable for both wage earners and employers,” Mr Phonesavanh said.
Without occupational safety measures, workers and employers will suffer and the country’s socio-economic development will be affected if accidents continue to occur in workplaces, he added.
“Asked if we ourselves will benefit much from this project, let me say that we will benefit a lot when we see that all workers in Laos are well informed about safety issues, workplace accidents are reduced to zero, and the workplace environment is safe because we have strong intention to invest a huge sum of money. We expect to invest almost US$2 million in this project, including buying land for the construction of the Centre.” 
The Centre will comprise a main building which will be fitted out with all the necessary equipment to provide international standard training for staff from factories and businesses. Experienced trainers will be hired and an international standard curriculum compiled after the Centre is built, with the grand opening scheduled for September this year.
Mr Phonesavanh said businesses that fail to place great importance on workplace safety face the risk of loss of life and disability in the event of an accident.

“We have partners in Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia and United States to ensure that our Centre operates in line with international standards,” he added.
“We have visited several companies in the region to learn more about how to provide international standard training for various sectors in Laos. In developed and industrial countries, occupational safety is given top priority in all areas of industry. I will try my best to ensure this Centre is run in accordance with internationally accepted standards.”
Mr Phonesavanh said an experienced trainer from the United States is based at IndusTek Company Ltd, and other international trainers will be sourced from its partners to train Lao nationals so that they can train others.
The Centre will provide both theoretical and practical training in all fields, ranging from preventive courses for people working with machinery, electricity and chemical hazards, working at heights, working in a confined space, fire extinguishing, rescue operations, working with heavy load lifting cranes and forklifts, and other training courses on general safety with regard to workplace activities.
In principle, anyone working at a height of two metres or more should wear safety equipment because an accident at this height can lead to loss of life or disability.
In Laos it is common to see people often not using safety equipment when working at heights, so it is essential to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of this issue.
Mr Phonesavanh stressed that an occupational safety culture cannot be created in one day. But as Laos opens its doors to more foreign investment with the establishment of special economic zones and industrial parks, it is essential to provide occupational safety services to meet the needs of foreign investors and it’s important to understand that when you invest in health and safety, there’s a large return for companies.
Occupational safety is a key factor in attracting foreign investors to Laos as foreign entrepreneurs will learn if occupational safety is the first priority in Laos, he added.
If more emphasis is placed on workplace safety in Laos and a law on occupational safety is enacted, more skilled workers will be available and many more foreign investors will come to Laos.  
“We are the first company to build this kind of Centre without regard for whether we will benefit or not. We are building this Centre because we care about people’s lives and are willing to help factories and companies to pursue an occupational safety policy,” Mr Phonesavanh said.
“In the next five years, we hope to see fewer and fewer accidents or even no accidents occurring at workplaces in Laos. This is our ultimate goal, so we need to generate effective occupational safety campaigns to ensure that many more people understand this issue.”
Managing Director of NPC Safety and Environmental Service Company, Mr Prakart Buttamart, said the Centre will be of great benefit to Lao people and the economy as it is designed to protect employees against accidents in their working environment.
Mr Prakart pledged to work in partnership with IndusTek Company Ltd. to provide an international standard of training in Laos.

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update March 27, 2023)