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Social protection: Health and safetyConstruction is one of the most dangerous occupations. Data from a number of industrialized countries show that construction workers are 3-4 times more likely than other workers to die from accidents at work. Many more suffer and die from occupational diseases arising from past exposure to dangerous substances, such as asbestos. In the developing world, the risks associated with construction work are much greater: available data would suggest 3 to 6 times greater. Yet the causes of accidents are well known and almost all are preventable. The ILO h These Conventions have not been widely ratified. However, most countries do have some legislation in place to protect the health and safety of construction workers and much of it is based on the principles embodied in ILO instruments and codes. The real problem lies in implementation. Monitoring and enforcement mechanisms are weak and voluntary compliance rare. In all but a few of the most developed countries, construction workers are still dying unnecessarily as a result of accidents and exposure to dangerous substances at work. This is due to a combination of ignorance, low levels of organization among the workers and deliberate negligence by employers. To address this situation the ILO is affording high priority to Occupational Safety and Health in its activities in the construction sector. The major thrust is in developing countries where the ILO collaborates with governments and the social partners in research, training, the preparation of promotional tools (films, training materials) and other innovative approaches to encourage and promote better practices in the field. Health and safety were discussed at the tripartite meeting on the construction sector which took place in Geneva in December 2001. They also constitute one of the main themes of the Construction Action Programme, implemented by the Sectoral Activities Branch of the ILO during 2004-07. Currently the Sectoral Activities Branch is also preparing a manual on HIV/AIDS in the construction sector.
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Updated by MMTT. Approved EW/ET. Last update: 25 October 2007.
as long sought to protect the safety and health of construction workers through the development and promotion of Conventions, Recommendations and Codes of Practice. The Safety Provisions (Building) Convention (No. 62) was adopted as long ago as 1937. It was superseded in 1988 by the 