The Legislative Yuan's 11th Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee visited the Center for Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation (COAPRE) on June 3 to review the Center's key initiatives and direction. The Committee specifically focused on COAPRE's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) service planning and progress in the rehabilitation services provided to workers affected by occupational accidents. During the visit, the new Minister of Labor, Ho Pei-shan, emphasized the importance of promoting occupational accident prevention and enhancing the accessibility of COAPRE's services. She encouraged the use of effective tools without concern for costs, emphasizing that if the tools benefit people, they should be fully utilized.

A delegation from the Legislative Yuan's 11th Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, led by legislators Huang Hsiu-fang, Wang Yu-min, Chen ying, Lin Yueh-chin, and Wang Cheng-hsu, along with their respective assistants and the Committee's secretary-general, Chang Lee-Dong, visited the COAPRE. The group, comprising 14 members in total, conducted an on-site review of the center's operations and initiatives. Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan, Deputy Minister Hsu Chuan-sheng, Director-General of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Tzou Tzu-lien, and the COAPRE's CEO Ho Jiune-jye personally welcomed the delegation, provided a detailed briefing, and addressed various questions and suggestions raised by the legislators.

The primary focus of the meeting at the COAPRE was on preventing psychological stress among workers and enhancing PTSD services for occupational accident victims and their families. Professor Yue-liang Leon Guo from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at National Taiwan University Hospital shared research findings indicating that workers who have experienced occupational injuries have a 22% higher incidence of mental health disorders and over three times the rate of PTSD compared to workers without such injuries. Professor Guo emphasized that factors such as workplace stress, prolonged fatigue, and bullying can significantly trigger mental health issues, underscoring the importance of addressing these risks.

During the meeting, legislators repeatedly emphasized the principle that "prevention is better than cure," with a particular focus on two critical areas of workplace safety. First, in response to the recent surge in factory fires across the country, the legislators highlighted a significant gap in fire prevention and evacuation training for employees within many enterprises.

They urged the Ministry of Labor to collaborate with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to establish a cross-departmental coordination platform. This platform would assist employers in developing effective emergency response plans and comprehensive workplace safety training for their staff. Second, with the frequent occurrence of fall accidents in the construction sector, the legislators commended the COAPRE's collaboration with Japan's Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) in introducing advanced construction safety techniques. They stressed the need for continued cross-ministerial efforts to hold employers accountable for implementing safety protocols on construction sites and ensuring that safety information is effectively communicated to workers. Additionally, the legislators urged for a grassroots approach to occupational accident prevention education, advocating for the integration of labor insurance awareness into school curriculums. They also called for a stronger focus on occupational safety outreach to vulnerable groups, including indigenous communities, to ensure that all workers are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves in the workplace.

Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan instructed the COAPRE to enhance the accessibility of its frontline services, ensuring that occupational safety awareness reaches every grassroots worker. She stressed the need for businesses to recognize the importance of occupational safety and health, and called for stronger collaboration with medical networks and the effective use of various occupational safety tools. "Do not be afraid to spend money on initiatives that benefit workers. If it's useful and advantageous to the people, use it fully," she stated.

The visit signified the Committee's commitment to supporting vulnerable workers affected by occupational accidents and provided crucial encouragement for the COAPRE's future direction. The COAPRE team expressed their determination to redouble their efforts in implementing comprehensive work plans aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of workers.