Improving occupational safety in digital era

The 2026 Action Month for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), with the theme "Innovating management and improving the effectiveness of OSH work in the digital era," is being strongly embraced by all levels, sectors, and the business community in Dong Nai City.

The inter-agency inspection team of Dong Nai City inspects occupational safety and health at businesses in 2025. Photo: Thao My

Through a wide range of practical activities, participating units aim to raise awareness, apply technology in workplace safety management, reduce risks, and better protect workers in increasingly modern production environments.

Building a safer working environment

At the launching ceremony for the 2026 OSH Action Month held in late April, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs Mai Xuan Tuan said that thanks to the strong involvement of the entire political system, the cooperation of enterprises, and the self-discipline of workers, occupational safety and health in the locality has seen many positive improvements in recent years. Harmonious and stable labor relations within enterprises are a “key factor” in attracting investment and retaining skilled workers.

Sharing practical experience and solutions in workplace safety management, Hiroaki Yamasaki, Head of the Management Division at Murata Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Long Binh Ward, said the company always places employees at the center of all production, business, and sustainable development activities. “For us, workers’ safety is not only a responsibility but also a core value and the foundation for sustainable development. Therefore, the company continuously strives to build a safe, healthy, and friendly working environment where every employee can work with peace of mind and maintain long-term commitment,” Yamasaki emphasized.

Safe production at FTT Vina Co., Ltd. in Binh Loc Commune, Dong Nai City. Photo: Thao My

As one of the enterprises recently honored with a certificate of merit from the former provincial People’s Committee, now the Dong Nai City People’s Committee, for good OSH performance, FTT Vina Co., Ltd. in Binh Loc Commune has adopted effective practices to improve working conditions and raise workers’ awareness of workplace accident prevention. Tran Van Don, Head of the company’s Electrical Engineering and Maintenance Division, said the enterprise places strong emphasis on providing adequate protective equipment, conducting periodic inspections of machinery and equipment, and organizing training sessions on emergency response skills. The company has also established a network of occupational safety and hygiene officers to conduct inspections and propose solutions to minimize workplace accidents and create a stable working environment.

According to businesses, as production activities continue to expand, creating a safe workplace is not only a mandatory requirement but also an essential factor in protecting workers’ health, lives, and rights. A safe and healthy working environment helps employees feel secure, improves productivity, and contributes to sustainable business development. Therefore, building a safe working environment is not only a responsibility but also a long-term strategy for businesses to develop stably and sustainably in the future.

Nguyen Duy Duc Toan, a trade union member at Pou Sung Vietnam Co., Ltd. in An Vien Commune, shared: “My colleagues and I always understand that occupational safety is the top priority in the workplace. Therefore, we actively mitigate risks, strictly comply with safety regulations, use protective equipment properly, and never act carelessly during any operation. This endeavor helps ensure safety for ourselves and our co-workers while creating a more stable and productive working environment.”

Strengthening management

Amid rapid digital transformation across all sectors, occupational safety and health management is facing new opportunities for innovation and greater efficiency. Previously, OSH management was mainly conducted through manual methods, such as paperwork, direct inspections, and traditional training programs. However, with technological advancements, many enterprises have begun applying digital platforms to workplace safety management. A growing number of factories have installed sensor systems and AI-powered cameras that can detect safety violations, such as workers not wearing helmets, failing to use personal protective equipment, or entering hazardous areas.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the province (now Dong Nai City) recorded 21 workplace accidents resulting in 24 deaths in 2025, a 41.67% decrease from 2024. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, five fatal workplace accidents were reported (a decrease of 37.5% year-on-year).

Hiroaki Yamasaki noted that in the Industry 4.0 era, occupational safety management is no longer limited to accident prevention but is increasingly focused on building smart, humane, and sustainable working environments. Combining digital technology with the sense of responsibility of both businesses and workers will create an important foundation for improving workforce quality, protecting workers’ health, and promoting socio-economic development.

At a recent workshop organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour on innovating and improving occupational safety management in the digital era, delegates agreed that digital transformation and automation are not only changing production processes but also creating more modern ways to protect workers. Gaps left by traditional OSH management methods can now be addressed through the effective application of digital technologies. This challenge requires enterprises to fundamentally rethink their thinking, management methods, and implementation tools.

In response to the 2026 OSH Action Month with the theme "Innovating management and improving the effectiveness of OSH work in the digital era", Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs Mai Xuan Tuan called on all levels, sectors, the business community, and trade unions to continue promoting their roles and responsibilities and further enhance safety at the workplace. He also stressed the importance of incorporating targets for reducing workplace accidents and occupational diseases into annual performance evaluations, and of strictly holding organizations responsible for serious accidents caused by negligence accountable.

The digital era is posing strong demands for innovation in OSH work. This requirement is both a challenge and an opportunity for enterprises, trade unions, and employees to work together to build a safety culture in labor, meeting the development requirements of the new era. Accordingly, businesses need to view investment in workplace safety as an investment in sustainable growth. Trade unions should diversify communication methods to make safety information more accessible to workers. Additionally, employees themselves need to raise their self-awareness, actively learn, update safety knowledge, and strictly comply with work procedures.

By Thao My – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho