1. International labour standards on osh
IPA Programme 2010 on HRD
Workshop Modern OSH legislation
20-22 June 2012
Tirana, Albania

2. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IPA National Programme for Albania
Overall objective
To identify the main ILO conventions and recommendations on OSH
To explain the influence of ILS in European legislation
Specific objectives
To recognize the influence of International Labour Standards to the new OSH Approach
To describe the main principles introduced by Conventions 155, 161 and 187

3. Historical overview ILO AND OSH - THE FIRST 90 YEARS 1919-1980
Piecemeal approach; detailed and numerous standards on specific hazards and occupations, focussed on protection
Gradual paradigm shift towards a dynamic and systemic approach, focussed on prevention
Turning
point
The Occupational Safety and Health Convention
No 155 (1981)

4. Concepts: Health Why is this definition relevant?
HEALTH IS a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Article 3 (e) Convention 155
Why is this definition relevant?

5. Concepts: Condition of work
"Condition of work" is any characteristic of work that can have a significant influence in the generation of risks for the safety and the health of the workers.
The general characteristics of the premises, existing facilities, equipment, technology, products and other equipment in the workplace.
The nature of the physical, chemical and biological agents present in the work environment.
The procedures for the use of the mentioned agents influencing the generation of the mentioned risks.
Any other characteristic of the work, including those relative to the organization of work ,social relationships, influencing in the magnitude of the risks to which the workers are exposed.

6. Concepts: Prevention
The principle of prevention. It asserts that avoiding harm is much better than trying to remediate that harm.
The principle of precaution. When an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.
Although the compensation, cure and rehabilitation of sick and injured workers are and will remain very important issues, the main focus and efforts of OSH should be concentrated on prevention
Prevention is preferred to protection.

7. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS
Protection in given branches of economic activity: e.g. construction industry, mines, commerce and offices and dock work
Protection against specific risks: e.g. ionising radiation, benzene, asbestos, guarding of machinery
Measures of protection: e.g. medical examinations of young workers, maximum weight of loads to be transported by a single worker, prevention of occupational accidents on board ship, prevention of occupational cancer, prevention of air pollution, noise and vibration in the working environment

8. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDSNo
Title
Year
115
Radiation Protection
1960
135
Workers’ Representatives
1971
136
Benzene
139
Occupational Cancer
1974
148
Working Environment
1977
162
Asbestos
1986
167
Health and Safety in Construction
1988
170
Chemicals
1990
174
Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents
1993
176
Safety and Health in Mines
1995
184
Safety and Health in Agriculture
2001
More than 70 ILO standards on OSH:

9. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS
The Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 (No 155)
The Occupational Health Services Convention 1985 (No 161)
The Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 2006 (No 187)

10. Global Strategy on OSH
The Global Strategy on OSH forms the basis for the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), and Recommendation (No. 197) adopted in 2006
Key: the need for an increased general awareness (April 28) of the importance of OSH and to place OSH high on political commitment and the national Agenda
Promote the effective implementation of National OSH System
Reduce fragmentation and promote coherency for effective impact
Engagement of all social partners in initiating and sustaining mechanisms for a continued improvement of national OSH systems.

11. Progressive development of OSH regulations
The scope and coverage of OSH regulations has evolved from:
Regulation for specific sectors to all sectors
Some industrial safety risks to any safety and health risk
Prescription of protective measures to deal with specific hazards to an overall management of OSH focused prevention and assessment of risks

12. Changes in the OSH regulation after Convention 155
New duties for employers
Risk assessment
Control of working conditions
Training and information for workers
Surveillance of workers’ health
Environment monitoring
Emergency planning
Recording, documentation and notification of OSH information
Investigation of occupational accidents

13. International Labour Standards
Convention (155) Occupational safety and health convention 1981 (161) occupational health services convention 2006 (187) promotional framework for occupational safety and health
International Labour Standards

14. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (1)
applies to all workplaces and all employees (though with flexibility);
Emphasizes continuous improvement;
Outlines responsibilities, duties and rights of stakeholders;
Deals with issues such as policy and consultations with social partners, legislation, advice & enforcement, designers & manufacturers, training, employers’ responsibilities, workers’ duties and rights, bilateral cooperation;
Highlights universal principles on OSH (e.g. prevention, “so far as is reasonably practicable”, cooperation, hierarchy of protection, right to remove in case of imminent danger and to be protected, but with duty to inform).

15. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (2)
calls for the formulation, implementation and periodical review of a national policy
design, testing, choice, substitution, installation, arrangement, use and maintenance of the material elements of work
relationships of the material elements of work and persons who carry out or supervise the work
training in the adequate levels of safety and health
communication and cooperation at all levels
protection of workers and their representatives from disciplinary measures as a result of actions in conformity with the Convention
definition of responsibilities of public authorities, employers, workers and others
Implementation through legislation and enforcement by a system of inspection with adequate penalties for legal violations
Include OSH in education and training

16. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (3)
National authorities shall ensure:
determination of conditions concerning design, construction and layout of undertakings, commencement of operations, major alterations, safety of technical equipment
determination of work processes and substances/ agents the exposure to which is to be prohibited, limited or subdue to authorization
procedures for notification of work accidents and occupational diseases
production and publication of statistics

17. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (4)
Obligations beyond the responsibility of employers:
All who design, manufacture, import, provide or transfer machinery, equipment or
substances for occupational use
duty of care
information and instructions
be aware of scientific and technical progress

18. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (5)
Collaboration with workers and their representatives
Information on the measures undertaken
appropriate training
right to enquire the employer and to be consulted on all aspects of OSH associated with their work

19. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 155: an overview (6)
Protection of workers (Articles 13/ 19)
A worker who has removed himself from a work situation which he has reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to his life or health shall be protected from undue consequences in accordance with national conditions and practice
The worker will report to his supervisor any situation he believes presents an imminent and serious danger to his life or health
The employer cannot require workers to return to this work situation

20. Occupational Health Services ILO Convention 161: an overview (1)
Sets principles concerning the services entrusted with preventive functions and responsible for advising the employer, workers and their representatives on:
requirements for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment
adaptation of work to the capabilities of workers

21. Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) - ILO Convention 161: an overview (2)
Formulation, implementation and review of national policy
Development of occupational health services for all workers and sectors
Organization for a single undertaking or common to several undertakings
May be organized by:
concerned undertakings (internal services)
public authorities
social security institutions
bodies authorised by the competent authority
Full professional independence of the personnel
Surveillance of workers’ health shall involve no loss of earnings, be free of charge and take place during working hours

22. Promotional framework for Occupational Safety and Health
ILO Convention 187: an overview (1)
Aims for the development of a national policy, system and programme
The national policy should refer to the principles of:
assessment of occupational risks
combating risks at source
information, consultation and training

23. Promotional framework for Occupational Safety and Health
ILO Convention 187: an overview (2)
National system
Legal framework
Competent authorities
Compliance mechanisms
Cooperation with workers at workplace level
National tripartite advisory body
Information and advisory services
Occupational health services
Research
Collection and analysis of data
Collaboration with insurance of social security
schemes
Support mechanisms for SME and informal economy
National programme

24. Promotional framework for Occupational Safety and Health
ILO Convention 187: an overview (3)
NATIONAL OSH POLICY
NATIONAL OSH SYSTEMS
Available infrastructure
and resources
NATIONAL OSH PROFILE
Inventory and analysis of
situation and resources
NATIONAL OSH SITUATION
Occupational accidents
and diseases
NATIONAL OSH PROGRAMMES
What we want/can do
Strategic planning
Goals and priorities
REVIEW
Impacts & achievements
Operative planning
Formulation, implementation,
evaluation of activities