Sengchanh Khammountha, the 52-year-old Vice President of the Lao Coffee Association, has integrated occupational safety and health (OSH) principles into his daily life and work routine in Champasak province. Despite the sector’s growth and economic significance, OSH awareness among farmers was lacking. Through the Fund, Sengchanh underwent transformative training that equipped him not only with knowledge about proper tool usage and safe chemical handling but also with the ability to disseminate this information effectively.
The Fund’s impact extended beyond Sengchanh’s personal practices to improve safety measures across the coffee supply chain, fostering closer relationships between employers and workers. While the project concluded in 2021, Sengchanh remains committed to advocating for continued OSH training and investment in worker safety and health within the coffee industry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders for sustainable progress.
Learn more: https://vzf.ilo.org/sengchanh-is-improving-osh-on-laos-coffee-plantations/