1. ITC-ILO/ACTRAV Course A1-05076 Trade Union Training on Occupational Safety, Health & HIV/AIDS (26/11 – 07/12/2012, Turin) Occupational Safety and Health Concept and Principles

2. Health and Life at Work : A Basic Human Right “ Everyone has the right to life, to work… to just and favourable conditions of work…

3. What is OSH? OSH refers to the prevention of work-related injuries and diseases as well as the promotion and protection of workers’ health. OSH involves many specialized fields: -Occupational medicine -Occupational medicine -Industrial hygiene -Industrial hygiene -Toxicology -Toxicology -Education -Education -Engineering safety -Engineering safety -Ergonomics -Ergonomics -Psychology, etc. -Psychology, etc.

4. The Goal of OSH Promote and maintain highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers Prevent workers from the adverse effects on caused by their working conditions Protect workers from risks resulting from factors that are adverse to health Place and maintain workers in occupational environment adapted to their physical and mental needs Adaptation of work to human beings

5. Whose safety, health and life are we talking about ? Yours... Mine...Every worker’s life ! Then how can we sit back when... Every 15 Seconds, a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease. Every 15 Seconds, 160 workers have a work-related accident.

6. But what does this mean ? It means that by the end of this day, nearly 1 million workers will suffer a workplace accident. It means that by the end of this day, around 5,500 workers will die due to an accident or disease from their work!

7. Global estimates of work-related accidents and diseases for 2008 Fatal accidents: 321,000 Fatal accidents: 321,000 Injuries: 317 million Injuries: 317 million Work-related diseases fatality: 2.02 million Work-related diseases fatality: 2.02 million

9. But what does this mean ? In economic terms it is estimated that:- –roughly 4% of the annual global Gross Domestic Product, –or US$1.25 trillion is lost through by direct and indirect costs of occupational accidents and diseases such as:- - lost working time, - lost working time, - workers’ compensation, - workers’ compensation, - the interruption of production and - the interruption of production and - medical expenses. - medical expenses.

10. Burden of Africa Continent faced with many challenges and issues in the areas of:- Health Nutrition and food security Infrastructure Illiteracy Armed Conflicts Weak economies…… « Labour Inspection » ?

11. Structure of the economies Agricultural (Women and Migrant workers) Rural based (poor infrastructure) Informal (not traditionally covered by LI) Based on aged/aging technology (not workforce) Undermined by Child labour, HIV/AIDS, Communicable diseases….

12. Should Africa Invest in OSH? Weak Economies Poor quality life & incapacities of Popl n Poor safety/working living & conditions & Environment Occup. Safety/H What impact What influence Worker -community Occup. Safety/H Productivity/ competitiveness Improved work ability Good OSH Stronger Economies BETTER “Investing in OSH Pays” Poor Good Poor Good

13. Competitiveness and Safety Comparisons between national competitiveness and levels of safety indicate that better safety and health equals better national productivity

14. OSH Global and Regional Trends Many governments have:-   Modernised their national OSH policies and systems;   Brought OSH legislation in line with international standards, especially C155   Have provided more resources for OSH inspection and advisory services;   Employers and Workers’ are placing higher priority and managing OSH more effectively within their enterprises as a result increasing OSH awareness

15. OSH Global and Regional Trends Over the past decades many more countries have realised the importance of OSH and the need to give higher priority to preventing accidents and ill-health at work. Numbers of serious accidents appear to be declining globally although the picture for occupational ill-health is less encouraging.

16. OSH Global and Regional Trends Unprecedented amount of information about occupational risks and how to manage them is now available, much of it on-line, and OSH appears to be better managed at both national and enterprises level. Overall situation is still grim

17. Some Issues Influencing OSH Changing Patterns of Employment Many of countries are experiencing an upsurge in the casualization of labour due to impacts of globalization and the global economic crisis leading to- Restructuring, Right sizing Privatization Loss of jobs Loss of benefits Growth of informal economy Poor coverage/ heavy challenge to OSH services

18. OSH Global and Regional Trends: OSH and Global Economic Recession Economic pressure Less people employed Reduction on OSH investment Higher incident rate Increased stress Increased work intensity

19. Do you expect that OSH conditions at work in your country will deteriorate as a result of the economic crisis? OSH Global Trends OSH and Global Economic Recession The majority answered:

20. Emerging Issues Psychosocial issues at the workplace:- –Violence at work –Dealing with HIV/AIDs at the workplace –Stress at Work –Drug abuse –New technologies and materials

21. Critical Sectors AgricultureMiningConstruction Informal Economy (accounted for >90% of New Jobs in African in the lasts Decade) More than 80 feared dead in --- mining accident

22. SAFETY & HEALTH IS NOT AN EXPENSE -- IT IS AN INVESTMENT

23. Actions taken by the ILO by the Member States New Instruments and Tools Global Strategy National OSH Legislation/Programmes

24. ILO Policy on the Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment Work should take place in a safe and healthy working environment; Conditions of work should be consistent with workers' well-being and human dignity; Work should offer real possibilities for personal achievement, self-fulfilment and service to society.

25. Basic Principles Role of the competent authority:- –National OSH policy, –National OSH legislation and regulations, –Inspection and enforcement –Provision of information and guidance to employers and workers so as to help them to comply with legal obligations. –Reporting

26. Basic Principles Responsibilities of the employer towards the safety and Health of the workers in his/her employment:- –As far as is reasonably practicable, ensure workplaces, machinery, equipment, chemical, physical and biological substances and agents as well as processes under their control are safe and without risk to health and where necessary provide Personal protective equipment; –Recording and Notification of occupational accidents and diseases

27. Basic Principles Responsibilities of the employer towards the safety and Health of the workers in his/her employment includes making arrangements for:- –Workers participation/co-operation in the fulfilment by their employer of the obligations placed upon him – eg safety Committees, workers representatives; –Provision of appropriate training and information on OSH.

28. Basic Principles Role of workers in OSH / Basic workers' rights: –right to know, –to participate and cooperate with employer on OSH –to stop work in case of imminent danger, etc –To report Occupational accidents and incidents Workers not to disclose any commercial secrets Under national laws and practice workers or their representatives be enabled to enquire into, and are consulted by the employer on, all aspects of OSH OSH expenditure not to be charged to workers

29. Core OSH Principles Coherent OSH Policies must be established to direct the OSH framework at national and workplaces levels and communicated to all parties; Promotion of a preventative safety and health culture based on a systems approach and on a continuous basis Occupational Health Services extended to covering all workers/sectors including most vulnerable;

30. Core OSH Principles A national system for OSH must be established to strengthen the national infrastructure; Legislation Education, training and information services Compensation and rehabilitation, Notification, reporting and classification for occupational accidents and diseases …..

31. Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment THANK YOU!