The prevention of workplace accidents and injuries to health should be prioritized to the extent reasonably possible. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has expressed significant concerns regarding the causes of hazards inherent in work environments. Their standards stipulate that occupational safety and health, as well as the working environment, must consider several factors:
The design, testing, choice, substitution, installation, arrangement, use, and maintenance of work elements such as workplaces, tools, machinery, equipment, chemical, physical, and biological substances and agents, and work processes. The relationship between work elements and the individuals carrying out or supervising the work, including adapting machinery, equipment, working time, organization of work, and work processes to the physical and mental capacities of workers. Training, including necessary additional training, qualifications, and motivations of individuals involved in achieving adequate levels of safety and health.
The ILO also provides clear definitions of the functions and responsibilities of public authorities, employers, workers, and others regarding occupational safety and health and the working environment, taking into account national conditions and practices. Additionally, the organization recommends periodic reviews of occupational safety and health and the working environment to identify major problems, develop effective solutions, prioritize actions, and evaluate results.
Member states are required to implement standards for safe work within their legislative frameworks. They must collaborate with representative organizations of employers and workers to address safety and health issues within organizations. Enforcement of laws and regulations concerning occupational safety and health and the working environment should be ensured through an adequate inspection system, with penalties for violations.
Professional determination is essential for defining conditions governing design, procedures, work processes, and substances and agents exposure. States should publish annual information on measures taken to address occupational accidents, diseases, and injuries, as well as introduce or expand systems to assess chemical, physical, and biological agents’ risks to workers’ health, considering national conditions and possibilities.
The standard stated measures aimed at fostering appropriate national conditions and practices concerning occupational safety and health. It emphasizes the integration of safety and health questions into all levels of education and training, including higher technical, medical, and professional education, to cater to the training needs of all workers. This necessitates the establishment of a central body to oversee these efforts.
The Convention by International Labour Organization places responsibilities on employers to ensure safe working conditions. It stipulates that employers must take practical steps to ensure that workplaces, machinery, equipment, and processes under their control are safe and free from health risks. They must also ensure that chemical, physical, and biological substances and agents under their control pose no risk to health when appropriate protective measures are implemented. Employers are further obligated to provide adequate protective clothing and equipment to prevent accidents or adverse health effects, as well as to establish measures to handle emergencies and accidents, including adequate first-aid arrangements.
At the enterprise level, there should be arrangements in place to facilitate cooperation between workers and their representatives, as well as the employer, in matters of occupational safety and health. This includes providing workers and their representatives with adequate information, training, and consultation opportunities regarding safety and health measures. Workers should also have the right to report any situation posing imminent and serious danger to their life or health to their immediate supervisor, and the employer must take prompt remedial action before workers are required to return to such hazardous conditions.
Bottom Line
Prioritizing the prevention of workplace accidents and health hazards is vital, as emphasized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. These standards outline comprehensive measures for ensuring occupational safety and health, including training, cooperation, and enforcement mechanisms. Adherence to these standards is essential for safeguarding workers’ well-being worldwide.
