Editorial
Promoting Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)...
The International Labour Conference June 2005 discusses a Framework
June 2005
Sheila Pantry OBE
The Promotional framework for occupational safety and health report is the 4th item on the agenda of the International Labour Office (ILO) Meeting 31 May - 16 June 2005. I urge you to read it as a matter of urgency so that you had an overview of what is happening. Even if you are not attending at least you will be aware of the current discussions.
At its 91st Session (2003), the International Labour Conference held a general discussion based on an integrated approach on "ILO standards-related activities in the area of occupational safety and health." (1) The resulting "Conclusions concerning ILO standards-related activities in the area of occupational safety and health - A global strategy" (Conclusions) (2) provide that a new instrument establishing a promotional framework in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH) should be developed on a priority basis. As a follow-up thereto, the Governing Body decided in November 2003 to place this item on the agenda of the 93rd Session (2005) of the International Labour Conference.
One of the paragraphs on page 9 jumped out for me... the highlights in red are mine (Your Editor)
Para 20. One of the key issues addressed, and about which there was a particularly clear consensus, was the NEED for an increased general awareness of the importance of OSH. There was also a high level of political commitment for effective implementation of national OSH systems.
Efforts to tackle OSH problems, whether at national or international levels, are often dispersed and fragmented and as a result do not have the level of coherence necessary to have effective impact. It was thus agreed that there was a need to give higher priority to OSH at international, national and enterprise levels and to engage all social partners in initiating and sustaining mechanisms for a continued improvement of national OSH systems.
This covers many areas including: inspection systems and ensuring compliance, information and training, collection and analysis of data on the national OSH situation, research and links with worker injury insurance schemes and institutions.
There are many countries - in Europe and across the World where workplace health and safety is very far down the political agenda. Yet at the same time we are seeing increasing numbers fatalities and long-term health.
Use your voice to make sure that you have a safe and healthy workplace.
The complete document is available in all the ILO official languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/promoframe.htm
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This month's FOCUS article is on The International Labour Office (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) call for the need for a preventative safety culture worldwide. Faced with a rising toll of occupational related death, injury and sickness, the International Labour Office (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) call for the need for a preventative safety culture worldwide.
What's more, a new assessment of workplace accidents and illness indicates that the risk of occupational disease has become by far the most prevalent danger faced by people at their jobs - accounting for 1.7 million annual work related deaths and outpacing fatal accidents by four to one.
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Training and conferences... for your 2005 Diary
Look at the latest additions to the Diary of Events and you will see plans have been made already worldwide up to 2006 to have training courses, symposiums and conferences in many places in the world on a wide range of subjects. So do not wait until it is too late to get into these important events, including EurOhse 2005 Conference: Creating a winning OSH culture see www.eurohse2005.com for full details.
Remember that even if you cannot attend these many events, speakers and organisers are often willing to share their knowledge. Look at the details - where possible, we add in the web sites of these events so you can request further information. And do let me know if you are organising any OSHE events so that I can add them to the Diary.
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Have a zero accident and incident-free year in 2005 in your workplace!