The ILO's World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual event, held on 28th April of each year. It aims to raise awareness about how to make work safe and healthy and the need to raise the political profile of occupational safety and health. The theme for this year's World Day for Safety and Health at Work is: Safe and healthy workplaces - Making decent work a reality

The ILO has recently 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 ILO 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 safety at work, to themed coffee meetings on occupational safety and health. There were also podium discussions and workshops and extensive media coverage.

For more information see the web site:  www.ilo.org/safework/safeday.

There, an ILO report on the subject and a poster will soon be made available. The ILO encourages its tripartite partners to organise activities at the national and entreprise levels using these promotional materials. Ideally events should involve both management and workers and be reported to press and media. Please also let the ILO know about your events by sending an e-mail to safeday@ilo.org.