April 28 marked the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. What exactly does the application of an occupational safety and health management systems in the workplace mean for the effective management of hazards and risks?
Each year, 2.3 million workers around the world die because of injuries or illnesses suffered on the job, while 337 million workers suffer from occupational-related injuries.
Work-related accidents and illness take a heavier toll in terms of lives lost and disability than global pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The tragedy is that so many accidents, illnesses and deaths could be prevented with appropriate managerial measures. It is a matter of respecting the dignity of the human being through the dignity of work; of shaping policies that reflect the central role of work in people’s lives, in peaceful communities, in stable societies and in resilient economies.
Successfully building a strong preventative safety and health culture depends on strong commitment, collaboration and concerted action by employers and workers. Adequate participatory training, awareness raising, low cost measures and good practices can save lives and contribute to improving work environments and profitability.
To accomplish this, occupational safety and health must be integral components of strategies for productive employment and decent work, and must strike the right balance between voluntary and mandatory approaches reflecting your company needs and practices.
It’s not just a matter of saying you are committed to safety and health, it is a matter of respecting human dignity and the dignity of work. It is a matter of ensuring that decent work for all is part of the framework for sustainable growth.
