OCC Walailak University Hosts Online Seminar on the Role of OSH Professionals in Earthquake Emergency Response

On March 31, 2025, the Occupational Health and Safety Program, School of Public Health, Walailak University, successfully organized an academic online seminar via Zoom under the topic “The Role of OSH Professionals in Earthquake Emergency Response.” The objective was to share knowledge, exchange real-world experiences, and raise awareness of the critical role Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) professionals play in preparing for and responding to unexpected natural disasters. The event was honored by the presence of distinguished PHWU alumni who are currently serving in key safety leadership roles across various prominent organizations in Thailand. Among the speakers was Mr. Supadate Niyomthong, Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Manager at Phyathai 2 Hospital, who emphasized that an effective emergency response plan must be practical, actionable, and applicable under all conditionsday or night. Mr. Marutpong Kongkeaw, Senior Labour Academic Officer from the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, contributed insights into crisis communication, highlighting the need for well-defined communication channels and prioritized message delivery that is concise, fast, and situation-appropriate. From the perspective of large-scale corporations, Mr. Saksiwa Lorthong, Safety Manager at Big C Supercenter PCL, stressed the importance of clear planning: defining who is responsible for what, where, and how. He underlined the need for regular drills to ensure that each employee understands their role and can act effectively during a real emergency. Likewise, Mr. Arthit Singkhon, Senior Professional-Level Safety Officer at Thai Obayashi Corporation Ltd., pointed out the importance of executive leadership that prioritizes safety at the policy level and ensures that those policies are truly implementable. Another valuable perspective was offered by Mr. Anusorn Pindhu, Safety, Occupational Health, and Environmental Manager at CP Rice Co., Ltd., who emphasized that “crisis communication” should be delivered in a way that is simple, clear, and directly leads to effective and timely evacuation of personnel. The session was moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Junjira Mahaboon, Deputy Dean of the School of Public Health, who concluded the discussion by highlighting that modern OSH professionals must possess a multidisciplinary knowledge base, systems thinking capability, and the ability to adapt safety strategies to diverse organizational contexts. This seminar reflects Walailak University's commitment to advancing collaboration between academia and industry in strengthening workplace safety and enhancing the readiness of OSH professionals to respond confidently to emerging challenges.