Codes of practice

The ILO Codes of Practice are available in English, French and Spanish at the Web site of the ILO Programme SafeWork: www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cops/english/index.htm

ILO Codes of Practice contain practical recommendations intended for all those with a responsibility for occupational safety and health in both the public and private sectors. These documents are not legally binding instruments and are not intended to replace the provisions of national laws or regulations, or accepted standards. They aim to serve as practical guides for public authorities and services, employers and workers concerned, specialized protection and prevention bodies, enterprises and safety and health committees.

Encyclopaedia and CIS database

The 4th English edition of the ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety is available on the Internet at www.ilocis.org/iloencyc.html together with the CIS bibliographic database.

The Encyclopaedia has been developed through an extensive process of consultation with more than 1000 safety and health experts in more than 60 countries with contributions by internationally renowned experts. The 3rd edition has been expanded and reorganized with longer textbook-like chapters combined with more than 1000 articles from experts and includes critical information on more than 2000 chemicals. Each discipline is covered in separate chapters and sections with plain-language answers to the most critical workplace safety and health questions. Over 1000 illustrations and tables are also included.

The CIS database is a bibliographic database which provides references to international occupational health and safety literature, in particular it gives you access to more than 55000 documents on all occupational safety and health topics and issues. This database is created by the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS) of the ILO.

You may try for yourself the sample records of Internet version of the ILO Encyclopaedia and the CIS database at www.ilocis.org/sample.html.

You may subscribe to this occupational safety and health resource by fax, e-mail or mail - www.ilocis.org/subscrib.html - from 600 US dollars.

In addition, the 3rd Spanish edition of the ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, which corresponds to the 4th English edition, has been edited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Spain and it is available on the Internet for free at two sites: the one of the Ministry and the other of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene of Spain, which depends on the Ministry.

Guidelines on OSH management systems

The ILO Programme SafeWork has issued a publication dealing with guidelines on OSH management systems, ILO-OSH 2001, which is available on-line in English, French and Spanish at: www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/managmnt/index.htm.

ILO-OSH 2001 provides a unique international model, compatible with other management system standards and guides. It is not legally binding and not intended to replace national laws, system standards and guides. It reflects ILO values such as tripartism and relevant international standards including the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161). Its application does not require certification, but it does not exclude certification as a means of recognition of good practice if this is the wish of the country implementing the Guidelines. The guidelines provide guidance for implementation on two levels, national and organizational.