DEATH RATE IN OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS STILL HIGH IN INDONESIA

Jakarta, Apr 29 (ANTARA) - The occupational death rate in Indonesia is still high, because a victim of an accident at his or her work of place lacked prompt medical treatment in the first minute after the accident.

Operations and Service Director of PT Jamsostek Ahmad Anshori said in Jakarta Tuesday the prompt handling of a victim, especially minutes after he or she had the accident, popularly called the golden hour, may save the life of the victim, or at least saved him or her from becoming an invalid up to 85 percent.

Data of PT Jamsostek showed that everyday an average of eight persons died after an accident at his or her place of work, and 36 became invalid for the same causes in the same period of time.

Nationally, the construction and building sector are the biggest contributors with 12 percent of all the occupational accidents in 2008.

To lower the death rate due to occupational accidents, better and quicker emergency help is needed, in addition to transportation up to hospital treatment.

He said building construction activities are very complex as they involved many sectors, like architecture, civil engineering, mechanics, electricity, enVironmental conditions, work safety and health, all of which need to be integrated starting from planning to implementation.

In the meantime, the minister of manpower and transmigration said that the government is committed to constantly promoting awareness, participation and responsibility in dealing with victims of occupational accidents.