To create safer and healthier work environments, the government is seeking to update the Occupational Safety and Health Act. By focusing on the comprehensive prevention of workplace accidents and the implementation of legal protections against workplace bullying, the proposed amendments aim to guide businesses to prioritize and adopt a range of occupational safety and health measures. These efforts will help ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all workers, laying the foundation for sustainable business development through a high-quality workforce.
Key changes
■ Strengthening accident prevention: For construction projects of a certain scale or larger, require the project owner to take preventive measures and allocate a safety and health budget during the planning phase. For projects involving multiple contractors, require the project owner to designate one contractor with overall responsibility for safety management, and all contractors to cooperate in implementing and managing accident prevention measures.
■ Improving workplace bullying prevention: Add a chapter on workplace bullying, providing a clear definition of the term and requiring employers to implement preventive measures. Require employers to take immediate, effective and appropriate action when they become aware of incidents of workplace bullying, and to establish clear reporting procedures.
■ Increasing maximum penalty amounts: Increase the maximum penalty amounts for occupational accidents. For penalized business entities, authorize the government to publicly disclose their name, the name of the person responsible for the accident site, the penalty amount, the date and location of the occupational accident, and the number of affected workers. This will strengthen public oversight and compel employers to fulfill their accident prevention responsibilities.