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28 April 2012 - International Day of Safety and Health

April 2012

The 2012 International Labour Office (ILO) International Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) in a green economy. There is a shift in the world to a greener and more sustainable economy. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be "green", the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all.

As the green economy develops, it is essential that safety and health at work are integrated into green jobs policies. This implies integrating risk assessment and management measures in the life cycle analysis of all green jobs. A true green job must integrate safety and health into design, procurement, operations, maintenance, sourcing and recycling policies, certification systems and OSH quality standards. This is especially relevant for sectors such as construction, waste recycling, solar energy production and biomass processing.

The ILO celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on the 28 April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.

The celebration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO and promotes the creation of a global preventative safety and health culture involving all stakeholders. In many parts of the world, national authorities, trade unions, employers' organizations and safety and health practitioners organize activities to celebrate this date.

Find out more on this year's campaign web page: www.ilo.org/safework/events/meetings/WCMS_173690/lang--en/index.htm

Trade Union Movement

The 28th of April is also a day in which the world's trade union movement holds its International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases and organize worldwide mobilizations and campaigns on this date.

This year the UK TUC is calling on health and safety representatives, trades councils and safety campaigners to make 28th April a day of action to defend health and safety.

This is a list of some of those events that are happening up and down the country. Most will also feature a minute's silence at noon, or a suitable time. All are on 28th April unless indicated otherwise.

More information: www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/workers-memorial-day

UK Memorial Website

Look also at the UK Memorial website: www.sheilapantry.com/memorial