The Danish work wear corporation Mascot International A/S has managed to establish safety conditions of international standards at Mascot’s construction site in Hai Duong province, 50 km from Hanoi. The Mascot safety experience will be presented at a seminar for the local authorities, contractors and trade union representatives on 25 September.
Through systematic training and enforcement of the contractors and workers a dramatic improvement has taken place compared to the standards at most Vietnamese construction sites. In September the milestone of 200.000 manhours were reached without any work related accidents at all.
“We are very happy with the outcome of the safety project, and we certainly do all that we can to make sure that we will complete our construction works with a zero-rate of accidents,” says Michael Grosbøl, CEO of Mascot International A/S.
The safety project has been granted support through the Public Private Partnership Facility of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approx. 750 workers and the management of four Vietnamese construction companies have been trained in the project.
“This project clearly demonstrates that it is worthwhile for investors to integrate occupational health and safety in their projects. Therefore, it is my hope that other investors will see the benefit in taking this issue seriously.” says The Danish ambassador to Vietnam, Peter Lysholt Hansen.
Mascot International Vietnam is currently building a garment factory and a bonded warehouse in the province. Operation is expected to start in March 2008.
