WHO training course on Occupational Health and Safety for Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic
© Credits

Focus on occupational health and safety in Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic

5 June 2018
PHNOM PENHManaging risks of disease and injury in the workplace, ensuring workers can access health services, and addressing determinants of workers' health are all key components of occupational health. The Catholic Industrial Medical Centre (CIMC) in the Republic of Korea is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health. In 2018–2019, the centre is working with WHO to provide technical and policy assistance and to strengthen institutional capacities for occupational health services.

In December 2017, staff of the centre facilitated the WHO training course on Occupational Health & Safety Training in Kampot province, Cambodia for representatives from Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The training was conducted alongside staff from the WHO Representative Office in Cambodia as well as trainers from the Republic of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and Harvard Chan School of the United States of America.

The training brought together 34 staff from the ministries of labour and health in Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Participants discussed key topics including primary prevention of occupational hazards, protection and promotion of health at work and improving the response of the health system to occupational hazards. Through interactive learning methods, the participants were equipped with basic knowledge of occupational health, occupational medicine and occupational hygiene and inspection. Participants applied this knowledge to further understand the status of occupational and environmental health in Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. They prepared summary information on occupational health services in each country and planned priority activities.

In following-up on the status of planned activities in 2018, good practices and lessons learnt can be shared across countries towards further enhancing occupational health in the Region.