1 IMPLEMENTING OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS GLOBALLY Düsseldorf, November 2009 THE DYNAMIC AND SYSTEMIC APPROACH IN ILO OSH CONVENTIONS Catherine BRÅKENHIELM HANSELL ILO, Geneva

2 DECENT WORK – SAFE WORK! THE ILO MISSION Tripartite approach to OSH through Decent Work. As affirmed by Mr. Somavia: DECENT WORK is SAFE WORK !

3 ILO AND OSH: Piecemeal approach; detailed and numerous standards; focussed on protection Piecemeal approach; detailed and numerous standards; focussed on protection Gradual paradigm shift towards a dynamic and systemic approach, focussed on prevention Gradual paradigm shift towards a dynamic and systemic approach, focussed on prevention

4 THE GRADUAL SHIFT Convention No Convention No (ILO-OSH 2001) Guidelines (ILO-OSH 2001) Guidelines Protocol Recording and Notification Protocol Recording and Notification Global Strategy Global Strategy Convention No Convention No A General Survey A General Survey

5 1981: CONVENTION NO. 155 Art. 4: “[…] formulate, implement and periodically review a coherent national policy […] to prevent accidents and injury to health […] by minimizing as far as is reasonably practicable the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment […]”

6 FORMULATE, IMPLEMENT AND PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE VIRTUOUS CIRCLE PLAN CHECK DO ACT

7 PREVENTION HAZARDS ARE INHERENT IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT RISKS SHOULD BE ASSESSED PREVENTION IS THE CENTRAL AND BASIC PRINCIPLE

8 MINIMIZING, AS FAR AS IS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE REQUIRES CONTINUOUS REQUIRES CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENT ADAPTATION TO SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT ADAPTATION TO SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT LEARNING LEARNING

9 2006: CONVENTION NO. C.187 Systemic approach Preventative safety and health culture Continuous improvement Indicators Requires a national OSH policy, system and programme

10 THE MODERN ILO APPROACH TO OSH Refers to a culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where government, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority” (C. 187 Art. 1 d) “Refers to a culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where government, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority” (C. 187 Art. 1 d)

11 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ILO’s approach to OSH through C. 155 and C. 187 is systemic, dynamic and tripartite The systemic approach valorises progress All countries can improve Challenge: indicators to measure progress

12 QUESTIONS ? THANK YOU !