Theme:
Participation and Social Dialogue in Creating a positive Safety and Health Culture.
In 2003, the International Labor Organization (ILO), began to observe World Day to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue. The holiday has been observed for close to 20 years and it is still very relevant in the workplace.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work takes place on April 28 every year. This holiday was initiated to promote and discuss the importance of having a safe, and healthy work environment by prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on the magnitude of the problem and on how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.
Data shows that deaths that have occurred as a result of work-related accidents are 19% globally. The necessity and demand to fix this humane issue is highlighted on World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The need for change and a thorough plan of action for the well-being of every worker across the globe is vital.
COMMON CAUSE OF INJURY OR DISEASE AT WORK
- Lifting
- Fatigue
- Dehydration
- Poor lightening.
- Hazardous materials.
- Act of workplace violence.
- Stress
- Fire and explosion
- Struck by moving vehicles.
- Disease outbreaks especially for health workers.
INJURY THAT OCCURS MOST OFTEN AT WORKPLACE
- Overexertion
- Slip, trip and fall.
- Sprain, strain and tear.
- Cuts or laceration.
HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK
- Take time to learn about and recognize the importance of occupational safety and health.
- Share the information about safety by creating awareness on the issue of worker’s safety and health. It can be done through social media and other platforms.
- Hold a safety poster contest at workplace on topics such as fire safety, ergonomics, or chemical safety.
- Employees can also have a safety hunt at workplace to search for items like, fire extinguisher and safety signs. There can be price for who gets the most items.
- Most people in the world today are either employees or employers. So any dialogue on the topic will create awareness around the importance of safety at work.
- Join in ILO’s activities.
- Learn about what this day is all about then apply what you have learned. You can implement amendments and executions under ILO and practice applicable safety measures in your workplace.
FACTS ABOUT WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK
- The ILO got involved with this holiday as a request from the trade union movement.
- It occurs every April 28.
- International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, initiated in 1996 is also observed today.
- The holiday maintains its relevance.
- A unified progress is formed.
IMPORTANCE OF WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK
- There is so much to understand and tackle with the topic of safety and health at work. Identifying hazards that cause injuries at work is a good place to start.
- Unsafe workplaces are risky and therefore undesirable. Safety and health are a form of social justice that every employee deserves in their work environment.
- This national holiday reminds us to implement safe work practices. The ILO doesn’t just teach us the importance of a safe workplace but reinforces the need to apply safety measures in our day-to-day activities.
- World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023 will explore the topic of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.
Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility.
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