UL Safety Index highlights rising safety standards in Vietnam

VIETNAM, 16 August 2017 – While work-related accidents claim about 600 lives each year in Vietnam[1], the nation’s rapid economic development and recent regulatory reforms have helped raise overall safety standards. These are findings from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Safety Index, an inaugural worldwide study conducted by UL,a global safety science company, which quantifies the relative state of safety across 187 countries.

“As a global leader in safety science, we have developed the UL Safety Index™ to help stimulate dialogue, and ultimately contribute to safety solutions for people around the world,” said David Wroth, UL Director of Public Safety. “Through the Index, we hope that governments, change agents, academics and NGOs can better identify safety challenges and collaborate on programmes to address those challenges.”

Vietnam’s Safety Landscape

The UL Safety Index™ places Vietnam at sixth out of 10 ASEAN nations in terms of overall safety, with an index value of 62 out of 100. Countries are assessed based on three measurable drivers of safety – institutional drivers (economics, education, governance and technology), safety frameworks (safety regulations and infrastructure) and safety outcomes (unintentional injuries).

Overall, Vietnam’s Safety Index value has steadily improved since 2000. The country fared relatively well in safety frameworks compared to other ASEAN nations, largely due to recent laws enacted to enhance occupational safety and health[2]. However, Vietnam exhibited comparatively moderate safety outcomes, as the number of accidental injuries, while still at a low rate, only marginally improved over the years. Transport injuries, falls, drowning and miscellaneous incidents continue to prove to be the main challenge to Vietnam, making up the majority of unintentional injuries. To remedy its persistent issues, the country may benefit by considering recommendations from the U.N.’s Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety, collaborating on improved codes and standards, as well as updating its national strategy for child injury prevention.

For access to the UL Safety Index, including background on the index’s methodology, visit www.ULSafetyIndex.org.

*The UL Safety Index examines safety outcomes related solely to unintentional injury and does not account for conflict in the regions mentioned.

[1] “Work accidents claim 600 lives each year in Vietnam,” Thanh Nien News, 28 July 2015

[2] “Vietnam enters a new phase in occupational safety and health,” International Labour Organization, 25 June 2015