Construction projects in Vietnam: Safety deficiencies endanger lives and quality!

Construction projects in Vietnam: Safety deficiencies endanger lives and quality!

The construction industry in Vietnam is currently facing significant challenges as numerous transport infrastructure projects are being carried out in parallel. Despite the large-scale developments, construction quality, occupational safety, traffic safety and environmental hygiene are only inadequately guaranteed in many places. This has led to several industrial accidents and construction incidents, including the fall of girders at the Dai Ninh Bridge in Lam Dong province and the collapse of the Binh Phong Thanh cable-stayed bridge in Long An province. Other projects, such as the Son Lang suspension bridge in Binh Phuoc and the sinking of the road at the Hoa Binh Bridge in Chau Thanh district in Tay Ninh, also highlight the serious deficiencies in the industry vietnam.vn reported.

Weather conditions and a lack of attention from investors and project managers have further affected the quality of construction. It is emphasized that inadequate content in project documents and construction plans will result in adjustments and longer construction times. To address these grievances, the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam has emphasized the priority of construction quality and calls on provincial and city governments to strictly enforce investors' rights and obligations.

Necessary improvements in management

In order to improve the situation, various measures are necessary. The equipment and personnel of the project management departments should be optimized to avoid overlaps. A clear definition of the powers, responsibilities and duties of each entity involved is also required. The discipline of all organizations and individuals involved must be strictly monitored. Increased inspections are also recommended to ensure compliance with construction quality and safety regulations.

In addition to the points mentioned, municipalities should improve the quality of surveying and planning tasks and ensure that sufficient data on geological conditions is available. Arrangements to legalize documents or falsify results must be strictly prohibited. Strong management of acceptance protocols and legal documents during the construction phase is also of great importance. In particular, the quality and origin of the materials used must be closely monitored throughout the construction process to avoid further incidents.

Integration of environmental and occupational safety

In the context of construction quality, occupational safety also plays a crucial role. According to Section 3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are obliged to ensure the safety and health of their employees. This is supported by the requirements of the Chemicals Act, which requires the protection of people and the environment from harmful effects. In this context, many responsible people in small and medium-sized companies are looking for systematic approaches to integrate environmental and occupational safety into existing quality management systems, such as haufe.de reported.

The ISO standards provide a valuable framework here. The structure of ISO 9001:2015 for quality management corresponds to that of ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management and ISO 45001:2023 for occupational safety. This uniformity makes it easier to integrate environmental and occupational safety into existing systems. Chapters of ISO 9001:2015 provide starting points for safety-relevant aspects such as quality policy or supporting employees in their skills development.

Overall, the situation in the construction industry requires a comprehensive rethinking of safety standards and quality. Implementing a systematic approach to ensuring quality, occupational safety and environmental management is essential to ensure both worker safety and project integrity in the long term.