The International Labor Organization (ILO) declared April 28 as World Day for Safety and Health at Work to raise global awareness of the scale of the problem, and how creating and promoting a culture of occupational safety and health can help reduce annual mortality in the workplace. This day was first celebrated in 2003.
The idea of World Occupational Safety and Health Day dates back to the Day of Remembrance for Dead Workers, first held by American and Canadian workers in 1989 in memory of workers injured or killed in the workplace.
Today, more than a hundred countries are hosting activities aimed at attracting public attention to unresolved labor protection problems. They are organized, as a rule, by local authorities, trade union organizations, employers' organizations and specialists in the field of labor protection.
As noted by the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation, in recent years these actions have aroused increasing interest and support from managers and employees of industrial enterprises and firms in Russia«.
National Occupational Safety and Health Culture — is respect for the right to safe and healthy working conditions at all levels, where governments, employers and workers are actively involved in ensuring a safe and healthy work environment, clearly defining rights and responsibilities, and where the highest priority is given to the principle of prevention.
The ILO estimates that around 2.3 million people die each year in the world as a result of workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Of this number, about 317 thousand cases are fatal accidents and about 1.7-2 million deaths caused by work-related diseases.
In addition, workers suffer approximately 270 million work-related accidents each year, resulting in more than 3 days of absence from work, and approximately 160 million non-fatal illnesses. As a result of inadequate provision of occupational safety standards, the global economy suffers damage of 4% of GDP.
Therefore, the ILO calls on all countries to celebrate World Occupational Safety and Health Day to prevent accidents and reduce the likelihood of illness in workplaces around the world.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic, which escalated into a global crisis in early 2020, had a major impact everywhere. It affected almost all aspects of the world of work, from the risk of transmission of the virus at work to the risks related to occupational safety and security (OBT) that arose as a result of measures to counter the spread of the virus. Thus, the transition to new forms of work organization –, for example, the widespread use of remote work –, has brought workers not only many new opportunities, but also potential risks associated with OBT, in particular, risks of a psychosocial nature and risks of violence.
The ILO is therefore using today's date to draw attention to this topic and stimulate dialogue on the significance of establishing and investing in MBT systems. Governments, employers' and workers' associations have a role to play in addressing the COVID-19 crisis, and their cooperation is a key factor.
Promoting an OSH culture can help reduce workplace mortality (Photo: PavleMarjanovic, licensed from Shutterstock.com)
Each of us can make our contribution to the fight against injuries and accidents in the workplace. Governments are responsible for infrastructure – legislation and services, – necessary to ensure healthy working conditions and prosperity of enterprises. This includes the development of national policies and programs, as well as supervisory systems for ensuring compliance with occupational safety and health standards and regulations in the workplace. Employers are responsible for occupational safety and health. Workers must comply with safety rules, not expose themselves and colleagues to unreasonable risks, know their rights and participate in preventive measures.
Every year, World Day for Safety and Health at Work is dedicated to the challenges facing the ILO and takes place under different mottos. For example: «Occupational safety culture at every workplace», «Occupational risk management», «Safe work – the right of every person», «Promoting occupational safety in the green economy», «Prevention of occupational diseases», «Occupational safety when using chemicals in the workplace», «Together we will improve the culture of prevention in occupational safety», «Stress in the workplace: collective challenge», «Optimization of the collection and use of labor protection data», «Occupational safety and the future of the world of work», «Anticipate the crisis and be prepared for it», «With joint efforts to form a positive culture of labor protection», etc.
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