Progress and Impact achieved through the ILO's Safety and Health for All Flagship Programme

Summary

Every 15 seconds, a worker dies from a work-related incident, with 3 million lives lost annually. The ILO has prioritized occupational safety, enshrining it as a fundamental right in 2022. Through initiatives like the 'Safety and Health for All' program, over 30 countries have worked to reduce risks in high-risk sectors, ratify ILO conventions, and improve workplace safety. By December 2024, the program has reached over 200 million people and transformed workplaces, with a focus on climate and digital risks for the future. Safety and health in the workplace is a universal right, not a privilege.

Takeaways

• 😀 Every 15 seconds, a worker loses their life due to a work-related accident or disease, resulting in 3 million lives lost annually.
• 😀 Workplace accidents and diseases have far-reaching consequences, affecting families, communities, and economies worldwide.
• 😀 In 2022, the International Labour Organization (ILO) declared a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental human right.
• 😀 The risks to workers continue to evolve, with new threats from climate change, digital transformation, and psychosocial hazards.
• 😀 The ILO’s mission is to safeguard life, dignity, and opportunity for every worker, ensuring workplace safety for all.
• 😀 The ILO launched its Safety and Health for All flagship program in 2016, working with over 30 countries to reduce workplace risks.
• 😀 The program focuses on four key pillars: Knowledge, Law & Policy, Institutions & Capacity, and Workplace Action.
• 😀 By December 2024, the ILO produced over 75 research reports on critical workplace safety issues, offering real-world solutions.
• 😀 The ILO has supported 12 countries in ratifying ILO conventions, leading to stronger national legislation and alignment with international labor standards.
• 😀 Over 350 organizations have been trained to promote safer work environments, impacting more than 200 million people globally through safer workplaces and improved supply chains.

Q & A

What is the main cause of worker fatalities every 15 seconds?

A worker loses their life every 15 seconds due to work-related accidents or diseases.

How many lives are lost annually due to work-related incidents?

Every year, 3 million lives are lost due to work-related accidents or diseases.

What impact do workplace fatalities have beyond the individual worker?

The impact extends to families, communities, and economies worldwide.

What was the significant milestone achieved by the ILO in 2022?

In 2022, the International Labour Organization (ILO) enshrined a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental right.

What are the emerging risks that affect workplace safety today?

Emerging risks include physical and psychosocial hazards, as well as the growing threats from climate change and digital transformation.

What is the purpose of the ILO's 'Safety and Health for All' flagship program?

The program aims to safeguard life, dignity, and opportunity in every workplace by addressing various occupational safety and health challenges.

How many countries have been involved in the ILO's Safety and Health for All program?

The ILO's flagship program has been launched in over 30 countries.

What are the four pillars of action outlined by the ILO in their safety and health program?

The four pillars are: Knowledge, Law and Policy, Institutions and Capacity, and Workplace Action.

How many research reports has the ILO produced as part of the Safety and Health for All program?

By December 2024, the ILO will have produced over 75 research reports.

What are some of the key sectors and issues the ILO focuses on in its research?

The ILO focuses on high-risk sectors like agriculture and construction, addressing chemical hazards, and examining how gender norms and perceptions of masculinity shape workplace safety.

What has been the impact of the ILO's work on national legislation and international labor standards?

The ILO has supported 12 countries to ratify ILO conventions, resulting in eight ratifications in four countries, which have helped strengthen national legislation and align it with international labor standards.

How many organizations and businesses have been trained or supported by the ILO's program?

The ILO has built the capacity of over 350 key organizations and has supported over 6,380 businesses and smallholders to improve safety.

What is the long-term goal of the ILO's safety and health program?

The next strategy will deepen national support, address climate and digital risks, and drive progress on the sustainable development goals related to health (Goal 3) and decent work (Goal 8).

What message does the ILO convey regarding workplace safety?

The ILO emphasizes that a safe and healthy workplace is not a privilege; it is a right.