ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK OF OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS IN LA XUYEN WOOD CARVING CRAFT VILLAGE

Abstract

Wood carving is one of the oldest traditional professions with a history of hundreds of years andhas developed to this day. The environment of craft villages has its own characteristics because theproduction area and the living area are located in the same household. Wood carving is ameticulous, labor-intensive job, characterized by the use of high-damage equipment such as saws,planers, chisels, hammers, nails, etc., and heavy materials. This exposes workers to many risks dueto the nature of the job or the working environment. Woodworking activities are mostly done bypeople in the village and some surrounding areas. The construction of a database on theenvironment and occupational accidents and diseases related to wood carving is still limited. Inthis study, we analyzed the characteristics of the working environment and the risks ofoccupational accidents that workers have to bear in wood processing in La Xuyen craft village,Vietnam. Within the scope of the study, a total of 377 employees were surveyed using the surveymethod.