World Day - 28 April

 

The ILO marks the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on the 28th of April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide. In many parts of the world, national authorities, trade unions, employers' organizations and safety and health practitioners organize activities to celebrate this date. We invite you to join us in celebrating this significant day and share with us the activities you organize.

The 2023 World Day for Safety and Health at Work will be commemorated on 28 April 2023 and will explore the topic of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work
28 April 2023

In June 2022, the International Labour Conference (ILC) decided to include “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.

On this occasion, the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, No. 155  and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, No. 187  were declared fundamental conventions.

As a result of this decision, all Member states, even if they have not ratified the Conventions in question, have an obligation, arising from the very fact of membership in the Organization, to respect, to promote and to realize, in good faith and in accordance with the Constitution, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are the subject of those Conventions.

Website of the OSH Day

 

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 - Act together to build a positive safety and health culture

28 April 2022
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 will be commemorated on 28 April 2022 and will explore the topic of participation and social dialogue in creating a positive safety and health culture.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that having a strong OSH system, which includes meaningful participation of governments, employers, workers, public health actors and all relevant parties at the national and enterprise level, has been crucial in protecting working environments and safeguarding the safety and health of workers.

Website of the OSH Day  

 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021 - Anticipate, prepare and respond to the crisis - INVEST NOW IN RESILIENT OSH SYSTEMS

28 April 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has led governments, employers, workers and the general population to face unprecedented challenges in relation to the virus and the many effects it has had on the world of work. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work will focus on strategies to strengthen national occupational safety and health (OSH) systems to build resilience, in order to face crises now and in the future, drawing on lessons learned and experiences from the world of work.

Website of the OSH Day  

 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 - Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives

Recognizing the great challenge that governments, employers, workers and whole societies are facing worldwide to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work will focus on addressing the outbreak of infectious diseases at work, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Website of the OSH Day
 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2019

The theme for the 2019 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is: “Safety and Health and the Future of Work”.

Website of the OSH Day
 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2018

The theme for the 2018 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is: “OSH vulnerability of young workers”.

 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2017

The theme for the 2017 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is: “Optimize the collection and use of OSH data”.
 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2016

The theme for the 2016 World Day for Safety and Health at Work is: “Workplace Stress: A collective challenge”.
 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2015

This year's theme is: “Join in building an OSH preventive culture”.
 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2014

This year's theme is: “Safety and Health in the use of chemicals at work”.

Continual development of production and use of the chemicals in workplace represents a real challenge for the society, as well as for the world of work. Finding appropriate balance between the benefits of chemical use and the preventive and control measures of potential adverse impact on workers, workplaces, communities and environment must represent a permanent concern and, in the same time, preoccupation for governments, employers and workers and their organizations. In this regard, concerted efforts must be orientated to offering a coherent global response to the continuous scientific and technological progress, global growth in chemicals production and changes in the organization of work in this field.

In support of this campaign, the web site of the World OSH Day has been updated with promotional materials in English, French and Spanish. In addition, DWT/CO Moscow will provide the Russian version of the Report on Safety and Health in the use of chemicals at work on its website.

List of publications:

 

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2013

The theme of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2013 is “The prevention of occupational diseases”.

Worldwide, occupational diseases continue to be the leading cause of work-related deaths. According to ILO estimates, out of 2.34 million occupational fatalities every year, only 321,000 are due to accidents. The remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, which correspond to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths. This is an unacceptable Decent Work deficit.

The inadequate prevention of occupational diseases has profound negative effects not only on workers and their families but also on society at large due to the tremendous costs that it generates; particularly, in terms of loss of productivity and burdening of social security systems. Prevention is more effective and less costly than treatment and rehabilitation. All countries can take concrete steps now to improve their capacity for preventing occupational diseases.

We invite you to join us in promoting this important date.

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2012

The theme of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2012 is “Promoting safety and health in a green economy”. The “green economy” has become an emblem of a more sustainable economy and society that preserves the environment for future generations. The advance towards a “green economy” creating “green jobs” and “greening” current industries, production processes and jobs has become a key element for achieving environmentally sustainable economic and social development. However, even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used may protect the environment but not be safe at all.

As the green economy develops, it is essential that safety and health at work are integrated into green jobs policies. This implies integrating risk assessment and management measures in the life cycle analysis of all green jobs. The protection for workers’ health and safety and the protection of the environment should be intrinsically linked to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainable development.

We invite you to join us in promoting this important date.

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2011

The theme for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 28 April 2011 was:

OSH management system: A tool for continual improvement

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2010

The theme for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work organized by the International Labour Office (ILO) on 28 April 2010 was:

Emerging risks and new patterns of prevention in a changing world of work

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2009

The theme for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work organized by the International Labour Office (ILO) on 28 April 2009 was:

Health and life at work: a basic human right

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2008

The theme for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work organized by the International Labour Office (ILO) on 28 April 2008 was:

Managing Risk in the Work Environment

Slogan: My life, my work, my safe work.

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2007

Safe and healthy workplaces - Making decent work a reality

Safe work is at the heart of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. It is essential to achieving all four of the ILO’s strategic objectives. Many of the international standards created since the ILO was founded in 1919 address issues related to occupational safety and health. Work can only be decent if it is safe and healthy. Occupational safety and health falls squarely into the category of social protection. And successful social dialogue is one of the key tools in making work safe and healthy.

The ILO created a new tool to contribute to achieving safe and decent work. The Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) was adopted by the most recent International Labour Conference. As a framework Convention, it is designed to provide for a coherent and systematic treatment of occupational safety and health. The Promotional Framework may also serve to promote recognition of existing Conventions.

The new Convention requires member States to promote continuous improvement of occupational safety and health in order to prevent occupational injuries, diseases and deaths. It foresees three main tools to achieve this aim:

  • 1. a national policy;
  • 2. a national system;
  • 3. a national programme.


According to the Convention, the national policy should serve to promote a safe and healthy working environment. Its delivery is ensured by an infrastructure known as the national system for occupational safety and health. The system should consist of institutional mechanisms, such as laws, regulations and responsible authorities, as well as activities such as the provision of both tripartite and technical information and advice, training and education, occupational health services, research, and the collection of data on accidents and diseases. Against this background, a national programme should be developed, consisting of a predetermined time frame, priorities and means of action formulated to improve occupational safety and health, and crucially some means of assessing progress.

The Office hopes to see many ratifications of this framework convention, and 28 April presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the new instrument and to promote its ratification.

Last year over 100 countries celebrated World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Events ranged from speeches held by leaders from government, employers' organisations and trade unions to exhibitions focusing on occupational safety and health and displays of traditional dancing. There were also podium discussions and workshops and extensive media coverage. For more information see the web site

ILO Subregional Office prepared a handbook “Recommendations for organizer of celebration of World Day for Safety and Health at Work” that contains practical recommendations and necessary information.

Recommendation for World Day 2007 (in Russian) (PDF 340 Kb)

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World Day 28 April 2006

On World Day 2006, governments, employers' and workers' organizations are encouraged to conduct awareness-raising activities within their areas of influence on the theme of accident and ill-health prevention. Meanwhile, everyone engaged in the world of work is encouraged to consider their working practices and to identify whether preventative action could avoid injuries and ill health, not only on 28 April but throughout the year.

We invite you to join with us in promoting this important day.

List of publications:

 

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World Day 28 April 2005

On 28 April, 2005, the ILO will for the third time observe the World Day, highlighting a safety culture, especially in construction. ILO has prepared an information package to help countries organize events and otherwise raise awareness of the World Day 2005 locally.

The following products are made available in Russian at the SRO Moscow web site in the months before the Day. English material is available at www.ilo.org/safework:

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World Day 28 April 2004

On 28 April, 2004, the ILO will for the second time observe the World Day, highlighting prevention and a safety culture. In 2003, the World Day was celebrated in no fewer than 50 countries worldwide. ILO is preparing an information package to help countries organize events and otherwise raise awareness of the World Day 2004 locally.

The following products are made available in Russian at the SRO Moscow web site in the months before the Day. English material is available at www.ilo.org/safework.

Safe work – safety culture

What can I do to promote the World Day?

In the previous years, countries have organised tri-partite (government, workers and employers):

  • panel discussions with high-ranking decision makers and safety specialists
  • seminars and conferences
  • exhibitions
  • round table discussions
  • radio and television interviews; discussion programmes
  • tours to enterprises
  • drama and performances

 

The World Day has also been linked with promotion and presentation of new safety legislation or regulation, safety programmes or safety campaigns. The sky is the limit.

World Day 2004 posters (courtesy Rodger Reid)

 

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World Day 28 April 2003

According to ILO estimates, each year two million men and women die from work-related diseases and accidents - a death toll averaging some 5,000 workers a day. Globalization is affecting occupational safety and health in a variety of ways, some positive, some negative. A strong safety and health culture in all enterprises is a key step towards both preventing occupational deaths and diseases and tackling related effects of globalization.

The ILO World Day for Safety and Health is bringing tripartite strength to the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996 and coordinated by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is intended to focus international attention on the magnitude of the problem and how promoting and creating a safety and health culture can help to reduce the number of work-related deaths each year. Because decent work is safe work.

 

 

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