Introduction
While Vietnam’s construction industry is achieving remarkable growth, labor safety issues behind the scenes are becoming serious. In many job sites, heavy and difficult-to-handle outdated equipment or cheap products that do not meet safety standards are still in use, which is a contributing factor to serious industrial accidents. The perception that “it’s just a stepladder” is the biggest risk threatening corporate profits and workers’ lives.
In this article, we visualize the risks facing job sites based on the latest 2024 data released by the Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). Furthermore, we explain based on specific figures and technical grounds how the latest Japanese-quality technology provided by Hasegawa Vietnam prevents accidents and dramatically improves work efficiency. We aim to provide practical criteria for judgment for safety managers and purchasing agents.
Challenges of “Working at Heights” at Vietnamese Construction Sites
Serious Labor Accident Data: The Alarm Bell of 2024
Industrial accidents are not merely a humanitarian issue but an economic risk directly linked to corporate management. According to the latest statistics from MOLISA, the number of industrial accidents in Vietnam in 2024 is on an upward trend, and the economic loss is immense.
The construction industry, in particular, along with mining and building material manufacturing, is one of the industries with the most frequent fatal accidents. “Falls from heights” at job sites have been a major factor accounting for over 20% of fatal accident causes in past data as well, making the use of appropriate equipment and safety management an urgent task.
Key Data: 2024 Vietnam Labor Accident Statistics
| Item | Data / Details |
|---|---|
| Total Labor Accidents | 8,286 cases (+892 cases vs 2023) |
| Number of Deaths | 727 people (+28 people vs 2023) |
| Economic Loss | Over 43 trillion VND (approx. 1.68 billion USD) (+26 trillion VND increase vs 2023) |
| Major Fatal Accident Industries | Construction, Mining, Building Material Manufacturing |
| Main Accident Causes | Employer responsibility (46.9%), Employee responsibility (22.9%) |
| Source | MOLISA Data 2024 via VietnamPlus |
Risks and Limitations of Conventional Equipment
The iron stepladders used at many sites and non-standard cheap aluminum products harbor the following three risks.
- Fatigue and accidents due to weight: Transporting heavy equipment drains workers’ physical strength and causes falls or falling objects during movement.
- Lack of stability: “Wobbling” caused by loose joints or low design precision fuels fear in high-altitude workers and lowers concentration.
- Improper posture: Equipment that forces unnatural postures at sites with steps or uneven ground dramatically increases the risk of falling.
“3 Latest Technologies” that Balance Safety and Efficiency
Hasegawa Vietnam provides concrete solutions to these challenges through products manufactured at the Da Nang factory.
1. “Lightness” is Safety Performance (ASHIGARU Series)
The “Ashigaru” series has achieved weight reduction that overturns common wisdom regarding conventional stepladders. Through a unique aluminum alloy blend and structural design, it has succeeded in reducing weight by up to 30% compared to conventional models while maintaining strength.
- Technical Features: Adopts advanced aluminum processing technology similar to that used in aircraft and automotive parts.
- Benefits to the Site: Because it can be carried lightly with one hand, the burden during interior work or equipment maintenance involving frequent movement is drastically reduced. Additionally, the shape designed for easy shoulder carrying and the adoption of a one-touch opening/closing bar shorten preparation time and protect the safety of workers (especially women and the elderly).
2. Sensory Peace of Mind: “Reliability you understand when you step on it”
Hasegawa’s manufacturing philosophy goes beyond just clearing numerical standards such as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) and SG (Consumer Product Safety Association). It focuses on eliminating sensory anxiety factors such as “wobble,” “sound,” and “deflection” that do not appear in data.
- Technical Features: A design that minimizes joint wobble to the limit through repeated verification by actual humans riding the product from the design stage.
- Benefits to the Site: By eliminating unsteadiness underfoot, workers are freed from the fear that they “might fall.” This can be expected to improve work speed and precision.
3. “Telescopic Technology” that Keeps Level Anywhere
Construction sites in Vietnam are not always on flat ground. For work on stairs or slopes, Hasegawa’s “telescopic leg technology (e.g., RZS series, RYZ series)” demonstrates its power.
- Technical Features: Equipped with a telescopic mechanism that can adjust leg length in millimeter units and an “upper operation lever” that can be operated while standing.
- Benefits to the Site: It eliminates the dangerous custom of placing magazines or wood to adjust height, ensuring a level and stable footing at all times. This cuts off the root cause of overturning accidents.
Reliability of Hasegawa Vietnam (Da Nang Factory)
Hasegawa Vietnam Co., Ltd. is not merely an overseas manufacturing base. It is a strategic hub supplying products to the Japanese and US markets—areas with the strictest quality standards in the world.
World-Standard Quality Control (JIS x Vietnamese Craftsmanship)
The Da Nang factory functions as one of the Hasegawa Group’s four major testing centers globally. Here, incredibly grueling tests are conducted to guarantee product safety.
- 100,000-Cycle Durability Test: For products such as the “Tough Series,” repeated load tests exceeding a total of 100,000 cycles are conducted, assuming 100 ascents and descents per day, 5 days a week.
- Strict Inspections Over 250 Times a Month: In addition to periodic tests conducted group-wide, the Da Nang factory performs its own thorough quality checks to maintain quality equivalent to the parent company in Japan.
Reliability Proven by Export Track Record
Approximately 40% of Hasegawa Vietnam’s products are exported to Japan and about 17% to the United States. This is objective proof that products manufactured in Vietnam meet the world’s highest safety standards. Users within Vietnam can obtain global-standard safety while keeping import costs down.
Summary
Now that economic losses due to industrial accidents in 2024 have exceeded 43 trillion VND, safety measures should be viewed as an “investment” rather than a cost. Many accidents during work at heights can be prevented by selecting and using appropriate equipment.
Hasegawa Vietnam’s products are not just tools. They provide fatigue reduction through “lightness,” psychological peace of mind through “stability,” and long-term cost performance through “durability.” To protect the lives of employees and enhance corporate reliability, please introduce “Japanese Quality” direct from the Da Nang factory to your site.