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Data, a lifesaver for Vietnam

By David Wroth

That which can be measured can be improved.

This is a maxim that defines our data-driven world. For decades, economists, social scientists and policy makers have used varying forms of this tenet. At UL, it is a foundational concept we employ to make the world a safer place. By using data to quantify progress, we are able to improve the management of a situation and confirm which practices and strategies are working. Being able to evaluate what is working and what is not is an incredibly valuable management practice.

The most recent version of the UL Safety Index was unveiled last month in Vietnam. The main goals of the Index are to provide critical data to assist in decision-making and spark critical conversations between the key stakeholders of safety. It provides relative safety performance comparisons that enable stakeholders to identify best practices in other countries which they can adopt in their own decision-making. The end result is more than offering specific safety solutions, rather it is about sharing this collected data with the people who can take the necessary actions and make life-saving improvements for their society.

Our team designed the UL Safety Index by using data science and algorithms to aggregate data in a new way. The Index takes into consideration indicators, drivers and outcomes related to the safety environments of 187 countries around the world. The UL team of data scientists identified national strengths and weaknesses, specifically in the area of safety, so as to understand the best ways to address issues from multiple perspectives.

The UL Safety Index is a tool for Vietnam policy makers and stakeholders to make targeted and incremental improvements year after year. It identifies the safety indicators in which Vietnam has made improvements as well as the areas requiring additional attention to keep its citizens safe.

Safety Index data points to road safety in Vietnam as a significant source of injury and death. When we combined the pertinent data sources, our algorithms revealed Vietnam has higher rates of injury, disability and death from transport injuries when compared to other countries – ranking 153rd out of all countries globally. The Index also calls out the high number of injuries due to drownings and falls. Surprisingly, Vietnam lies in the lowest tier of the Index among Asian countries within these categories. The increase in fall injuries has been associated with an aging population and the rise in life expectancy of Vietnamese citizens, from 70 years in 1990 to 76 years today.

By highlighting data on issues on which policy makers need to focus, lives can be saved. For example, by taking specific measures to address traffic safety, drowning and fall-related injuries, Vietnam’s safety landscape can be positively impacted and mortality rates reduced.

The data UL and other organizations, such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, provide is formidable, but remains significantly untapped.Data driven strategies will ensure resources, such as money and time, are directed to the greatest opportunities.

To compliment the Index, UL is developing country-specific case studies and a Policy Maker’s Toolkit, both of which will be released in the coming months. Through these tools, policy makers can derive valuable insights to appropriately shape their public awareness campaigns and public health programs.

UL is committed to safe living and working environments for the people of Vietnam. Through the UL Safety Index, and our other initiatives on standards, education and research, we’re actively collaborating with stakeholders in Vietnam to improve safety. Ultimately, we hope UL’s efforts will provide Vietnam’s legislators with comprehensive data that will maximize their initiatives and investments in keeping people safe.


David Wroth is a safety expert and is UL’s Director of Data Science. UL fosters safe living and working conditions for people everywhere through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. To learn more about UL visit ul.com and the annual UL Safety Index, visit www.ULSafetyIndex.org

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Topics

  • Crises, Incident

Categories

  • safety
  • ul safety index
  • vietnam

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