Safety at Work is Must

We work for our livelihood in different sectors which includes government or private. There are people who are also involved in entrepreneurial activities and are also engaged in unorganised work. Around the world people are engaged in different occupations which may be even challenging and risky. Global data shows that every day, people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases – more than 2.78 million deaths per year. Additionally, there are some 374 million non-fatal work-related injuries each year while we may not know about the mental health issues of workers working in different situations.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) aims to create worldwide awareness of the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases and to place the health and safety of all workers on the international agenda to stimulate and support practical action at all levels.

At present we are locked down inside our homes without going out for work. People around the world are worried about the pandemic and as a safety measure offices and business houses are close except the essential services. It is not only a health crisis but has also bought economic and social disruptions. Many individuals fear job loss due to this pandemic and unorganised sector like small businesses/economic activities are also at risk. But there is no doubt that lock down shall end one day and things should become normal as before but that would certainly take some time and coping up these days is really challenging for many .

We are talking about work and safety at work in different sectors. Recognising the great challenge that governments, employers, workers and whole societies are facing worldwide to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work will focus on addressing the outbreak of infectious diseases at work, in particular, on the Covid-19 pandemic. This global day is observed on 28th April.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work will aim to stimulate national tripartite dialogue on safety and health at work. The ILO uses this day to raise awareness on the adoption of safe practices in workplaces and the role that occupational safety and health (OSH) services play. It will also focus on the medium to long-term, including recovery and future preparedness, in particular, integrating measures into OSH management systems and policies at the national and enterprise levels.

In 2003, the ILO, began to observe World Day in order to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalising on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue. This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference in June 2003. One of the main pillars of the Global Strategy is advocacy, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a significant tool to raise awareness of how to make work safe and healthy and of the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health. 28th April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organised worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.