BANGKOK, 13 January 2015 – Labor Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat has vowed to tighten policies related to safety at work in order to promote a healthy work force and keep occupational workplace accidents to a minimum.
His pledge was made today while he was making a special statement on “Driving Policy for a Safer Workplace” to over 3,000 entrepreneurs at SD Avenue Hotel in Bangkok.
He said that the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare will take an proactive role in providing knowledge and understanding on the importance of occupational safety. An essential awareness should be raised among personnel at all levels ranging from the commited work force to the business owners.
Moreover, personnel will be taken to visit industrial rehabilitation centers so that they can see what physical loss and damage they might suffer if they fail to wear their personal protective equipment while working, he emphasized.
He suspected that many believed that protective equipment was provided just for showing inspectors that they have a high standard of safety in the workplace. Therefore such attitudes towards safety must be changed, along with the stricter enforcement of related laws.
He added that he has already signed a proposal to set up a Safety Department; however, consideration of the proposal will take time before it can be officially launched.
The initiative to enhance safety at work is part of the ministry’s policy to make 2015 the Safety Year, in order to pay tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her great contribution to, and care for worker welfare in Thailand.
