Climate change related hazards, such as excessive heat, UV radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases and increased use of agrochemicals have serious impacts on the safety and health of workers.
This April, join the International Labour Organization in commemorating the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
More info: ilo.org/safeday • Click here for Social media downloads
The impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health
Every 28 April, the International Labour Organization (ILO) commemorates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, focusing on a timely theme related to occupational safety and health.This year, the theme will mirror the theme adopted by unions worldwide, and will focus on exploring the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health.Changing weather patterns have notable impacts on the world of work, particularly affecting workers safety and health. Examples of occupational risks exacerbated by climate change include heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution, major industrial accidents, extreme weather events, an increase in vector-born diseases and increased exposure to chemicals.The ILO will produce several materials for the World Day 2024, including a report, promotional materials, as well as a global event with experts and guest speakers from governments, employers and workers to discuss how to protect workers and respond to this global challenge (April 2024 Exact Date To be announced).
Contact Information
Safe Day Team
Email : safeday@ilo.org
Manal Azzi, Occupational Safety and Health Team Lead
Email : azzi@ilo.org
Seminar za megjunarodni standardi za rabota za sindikatite od Zapaden Balkan vo organizacija na ILO
Statement – 27 Apr 2023 – DOWNLOAD
On the occasion of the International Workers Memorial Day, the ITUC-Asia Pacific, on behalf of its 60 million effective members from 34 countries and territories in Asia and the Pacific, remembers workers who have lost their lives, been injured or sick as a result of their work-related accidents and illnesses.
Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a fundamental right, and all industrial accidents and illnesses are preventable. Therefore, industrial accidents and diseases are against humanity and social justice. We should stop more killings on the job.
The 187 ILO member states – their governments, employers and workers, assure it at the 110th International Labour Conference in June 2022 by adopting the resolution to include a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and right at work.
The United Nations also adopted the resolution (A/76/L.75) of the UN General Assembly to recognise the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environments as a human right in July 2022.
Despite these renewed international commitments, however, a safe and healthy working environment free from industrial accidents and diseases is far from reality. The pandemic-led global health and economy crisis, indisputable evidence of deficiency in OHS across the globe, has put more people into dangerous and poor working conditions as well as discrimination and harassments.
In this regard, as proven by many studies, the strong trade unionism can save lives. The most effective labour market institution to realise a safe and healthy working environment is to make all workers to join or form their trade unions to protect themselves from industrial accidents and diseases. Hence, the ITUC-Asia Pacific continues its struggles to build workers’ power by organising.
Furthermore, considering the fact that among 36 ILO Member countries in Asia and the Pacific, only 9 countries and 8 countries ratified the ILO Fundamental Convention on Occupational Safety and Health (1981, No. 155), and on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health (2006, No. 187) respectively, the ITUC-Asia Pacific strongly urge all the governments in the region to ratify and implement these Conventions without delay, starting from a national tripartite dialogue to discuss, formulate, implement, monitor and review a national OHS policy with adequate labour inspection as well as heavy publishment for industrial accidents and diseases to ensure a healthy and safe working environment at all levels.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific also solidly demands international organisations, including the inter-governmental organisations and the international as well as regional financial institutions, to work together for coordinated policies and actions to ensure OHS governance in their decisions and projects throughout global supply chains, as well as to improve national capacity on OHS with social dialogue being promoted. We must recognise that OHS is an integral part of sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery as well.
The ITUC-Asia Pacific, in strong solidarity with all its affiliates, reaffirms its relentless struggles on every frontline for OHS for all workers.
In June 2022, the International Labour Conference included “a safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work. Continue reading Global: Watch Q&A with Manal Azzi – Implementing the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work
In June 2022, the International Labour Conference (ILC) decided to include “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
On 28 April 2023, the ILO will celebrate this decision, bringing together experts and constituents to discuss the implications it has for the world of work, as well as how to practically implement this right in the world of work. It will also serve to present the findings of research on the implementation status of various provisions of the fundamental Conventions No. 155 and No. 187. Keynote speakers include ITUC deputy general secretary Owen Tudor. Rebecca Reindel, health and safety director with the US national union federation AFL-CIO, is a panellist.
How can we promote the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment?
Join the ILO global dialogue on how to implement a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.
To inform 28 April discussions, ILO has also produced a detailed report, Implementing a safe and healthy working environment: Where are we now?
ILO notes: “In the context of the 2023 World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebrating the recognition of a “safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work, this report provides information on the global implementation status of some of the key provisions contained in the fundamental Conventions Nos 155 and 187.”
The report provides a sobering analysis of the challenges ahead. It found over a fifth (21 per cent) of ILO member states do not as yet have a national tripartite consultative structure on health and safety. Almost a third (32 per cent) do not provide legal protection for workers who remove themselves from serious or imminent dangers at work, a requirement ILO Convention 155.
ILO ‘fundamental’ OHS dialogue on 28 April
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work
In June 2022, the International Labour Conference (ILC) decided to include “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
On 28 April 2023, the ILO will celebrate this decision, bringing together experts and constituents to discuss the implications it has for the world of work, as well as how to practically implement this right in the world of work. It will also serve to present the findings of research on the implementation status of various provisions of the fundamental Conventions No. 155 and No. 187.
How can we promote the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment?
Join the ILO global dialogue on how to implement a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.
No-one should die to make a living. After all, occupational health and safety is now a globally-binding ILO fundamental legal right at work.
But a new report warns bad jobs still kill someone somewhere every six seconds, every day, round the clock. It notes that last year the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognised occupational health and safety as a top rated ‘fundamental’ right at work.
“Politically, it’s a game changer,” it notes. “Practically, workers have continued to die, an estimated 3 million in the last year alone.”
The report, published in the union-backed Hazards magazine ahead of International Workers’ Memorial Day, argues union organising can make the difference. “Whether you describe it as the ‘union dividend’, ‘union advantage’ or ‘union effect’, there is a long-established, well-tested proof of the life-saving impact of union organisation at work. It shows walking out or being walked all over can be a life or death decision.”
Organising for occupational health and safety is the theme this year for the 28 April event.
Full story: Everyday heroes: The lifesaving union effect. Hazards, number 161, 2023.
The GTUBWW Egypt joins BWI in marking the International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April by calling on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to recognise occupational health and safety as a fundamental right of all workers. #SaveLivesAtWork #IWMD21
This World Day for Safety and Health at Work, let’s strengthen and build resilient national occupational safety and health systems. We cannot achieve goal 8 and productive employment unless we create a safe and healthy working environment for ALL.
This World Day for Safety and Health at Work, let’s strengthen and build resilient national occupational safety and health systems. We cannot achieve goal 8 and productive employment unless we create a safe and healthy working environment for ALL.@ILOCaribbean pic.twitter.com/sclaWczWAe
— UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (@UNBdosandOECS) April 28, 2021
