An Annual Event

The following events are happening world wide on or around 28 April 2005. Please let us know if you have anything to add to the list: safeday@ilo.org

In addition to the country events listed below, there were many workplaces in over 20 countries which celebrated World Day through their own initiative.

On the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the ILO's publications department has put together a catalogue of books and documents.

Regional Office for Africa (RO-Abidjan)
Subregional Office Abidjan
	Burkina Faso	The Ministry for Labour, Employment and Youth celebrated both the ILO's World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April) and the African Day for the Prevention of Occupational Risks (30 April).
	Benin	Les activités entrant dans le cadre de la Journée mondiale débutent le mercredi 26 avril 2005 pour prendre fin le samedi 30 avril par la célébration de la 9ème journée africaine de Prévention des risques professionnels. Le Ministre du travail a prononcé le 27 avril une déclaration sur les antennes de la télévision nationale. Le 29 avril il y a eu une reflexion par les différents acteurs de la sécurité et santé au travail sur le cadre promotionnel de la Santé et sécurité au travail. Les autres manifestations se sont déroulés dans la cité royale d'ABOMEY.
	ILO Office Lagos: Nigeria	The Government, Employers' and Workers' organizations have worked together to commemorate World Day for Safety and Health at Work. A symposium involving key representatives from the social partners took place on 28 April, including a main presentation entitled "Construction safety and health hazards: the role of social partners" Mini-rallies within workplaces were held to sensitize workers to ergonomics and other occupational safety and health issues. Rallies took place in Abuja, Lagos State, Ogun State, Rivers State, Kano and Kaduna States. Armbands were produced and distributed to government officials, employers and workers' representatives as a prominent advocacy tool. The media were extensively mobilized. A talk show was screened on national television, including a phone-in by viewers. In the run-up to April 28 press, television and radio coverage announcements were made. Flyers were distributed to all members of the National Assembly to raise high-level political awareness.
Subregional Office Addis Ababa
	ILO Office Dar es Salaam: Kenya	The Directorate of Occupational Health & Safety Services in Nairobi carried out an array of events for World Day during the week 24-29 April 2005: banners were placed at the main entrance of Nakuru town, and leaflets distributed medical examinations were held for workers in the towns of Nakuru, Naivasha and Eldoret bicycle riders circulated in Kericho town wearing T-Shirts and caps bearing safety and health messages there was a First Aid competition and a medical practitioners' workshop in Kericho and Naivasha towns respectively On the 28th itself, the Minister of Labour visited a safety exhibition and met occupational safety and health professionals. There were entertainments, essay writing as well as fire safety and First Aid demonstrations. Speeches were given by the Minister, his permanent secretary, employer representatives, workers representatives and the Director of the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services. These events culminated in award presentations and luncheon.
	ILO Office Dar es Salaam: Tanzania	The Office planned a march by stakeholders, to be held on 28 April and speeches by the ILO and by constituents. Exibitions and awards for occupational safety and health were also organized.
	ILO Office Dar es Salaam: Uganda	There were national celebrations of World Day in Kampala on 28 April in which the CIS centre (occupational safety and health information centre) for Uganda participated.
	Ethiopia	ILO-Addis together with the World Health Organisation Country Office and the Construction/Contractor Association of Ethiopia organized the following activities: Two 15 minute radio programmes of interviews with the social partners in Amharic on national radio, broadcast before 28 April A video made locally in Amharic shown on national TV after prime time news on 27 April A symposium was organised at a construction site and attended by the social partners and stakeholders on 28 April A leaflet was distributed in both Ahmaric and English to promote safety and health on constrution sites
Subregional Office Cairo
	ILO Office Algiers: Algeria	The Algerian Ministry of Labour and Social Security organized a one week exhibition within the Ministry. The exhibition took place from 23rd - 28th April, 2005 with an official opening ceremony on 28 April, to which the Minister of Labour and Social Security was invited. In addition, a postage stamp was produced for World Day, which was presented at the opening ceremony.
Subregional Office Dakar
	Senegal	Le Conseil du patronat sénégalais et le Ministére du Travail ont proposé l'agenda suivant pour marquer La journée mondiale sur la sécurité et santé au travail: Table Ronde le matin à laquelle seront invité les Ministres de l'Intérieur, de la Santé, de l'Hygiène et de la Prévention, du Travail, et de la Fonction publique Atelier sur le Batiment dans l'aprés midi avec les professionnels du secteur le 29 et 30 avril des journées portes ouvertes avec la caisse de Sécurité Sociale sont prévues le 29/04/05 une conférence pour préparer la Conférence du Travail de Juin 2005 le 30/04/05 une conférence avec le thème "Pour une participation renforcée des employeur aux activitées de l'IAPRP". Ces manifestations ont été cloturées par un "point de presse"
Subregional Office Harare
	ILO Office Pretoria: South Africa	The ILO office in Pretoria planned a number of activities for World Day 2005 in cooperation with tripartite partners. The event took place in Richards Bay, Kwa Zulu Natal Province in early May in the presence of the Minister of Labour. Representatives of the social partners and the UN were invited. Addresses to the participants were made by the leading figures from Labour, Business, Community, Government and the ILO. Media activities advertising the Day included press releases, interviews, pamphlets and posters.
Subregional Office Yaoundé
	Gabon	The Government has declared World Day for Safety and Health at Work to be an annual event in Gabon. This year similar events to last year took place. In 2004 these included a televised speech by the Minister of Labour and Employment broadcast on the eve of World Day and a conference on the main theme on 28 April itself.
Regional Office for Arab States (RO-Beirut)
Subregional Office Beirut
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RO-Bangkok)
	Australia	A number of Australian government agencies marked World Day, including the following: The Seacare Authority promoted 28 April 2005 as Sea Safe-Work Day within the Australian maritime industry Civil Aviation Safety Authority Health Insurance Commission Adelaide City Council Intellectual Property (IP) Australia ACT Dept Justice & Community Safety Australian Taxation Office University of New South Wales In addition, a large number of private companies conducted internal information and awareness campaigns.
Subregional Office Bangkok
	Singapore	The Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC), along with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) organised a national occupational safety and health awareness campaign under the slogan THINK SAFETY, WORK SAFELY from 28 to 30 April. It raised awareness of OSH issues and aim to strengthen a safety culture at the workplace level. It was launched on 28 April by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower, at a symposium timed to coincide with the ILO World Day for Safety and Health at Work and the International Commemoration Day (ICD). The Singapore Institute Of Safety Officers (SISO), Institute Of Engineers, Singapore (IES), Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMa), Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL), Association Of Singapore Marine Industry (ASMI), National Safety Council (NSC) also organised occupational safety and health seminars and workshops during the campaign. Factories were also encouraged to organise their in-house promotional activities during the period so as to reinforce the importance of occupational safety and health at the workplace. Student groups were formed to visit the OSHLAND, an exhibition centre located in Ministry of Manpower Training & Promotion Centre, developed and launched in July 2004, which showcases a variety of occupational safety and health exhibits.
	Thailand	The ILO in Thailand held a comemmoration ceremony in the Thai Labour Museum which included musicians playing appropriate songs about workers, safety, and construction, as well as speeches from the social partners, candle lighting and a minute of silence, plus the facilities of the museum. Journalists from seven major newspapers were present. ILO posters have been translated into Thai and have also been used on T-shirts. In addition there was a fact sheet on the situation regarding occupational safety and health in the Thai construction industry. On 24 April at 20.30, MCOT Radio FM 100.5 conducted an interview with ILO-Bangkok about the World Day. We are honoured to announce that His Excellency the Prime Minister of Thailand has recorded a video message for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, viewable on this site. The address was broadcast as follows: TV 3 at 10.26 TV 9 before 17.00 news TV 5 both at 10.00 in English, and before 21.00 in Thai (televised to over 170 countries with special receiver) Radio Thailand at 19.00 on 27 April, and at 07.00 on 28 April MCOT FM 107 Radio at 10.30 The tape was also provided to BBC and APTN.
	Lao	The ILO Social Security Project launched its Occupational Safety and Health Programme with the Lao Federation of Trade Unions on 28 April 2005 and 30 employers in Vientiane Municipality. The programme will provide workplace training on occupational safety and health in 80 workplaces in three provinces. The employers concerned are in garment and textiles, food and beverage processing, small construction, sawmills and woods processing sectors. The project aims to train 100 workplace trainers to identify risks and train workers to prevent injuries and illness, reduce workplace hazards and promote "Think Safety, Work Safely". In addition the posters for World Day were distributed through the ILO's national tripartite counterparts including the Labour Department MoLSW, the Lao Federation of Trade Union (LFTU), the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and social security institutions.
	ILO Office Hanoi: Vietnam	A television discussion on a preventive safety and health culture was aired on VTV2 on the occasion of the World Day on safety and health 28 April 2005. The participants in the discussion include the Director of ILO-Hanoi, the Deputy Director of the Department of Occupational Safety and two other invited guests representing workers and employers. The programme was shown at the following times: 17.30 on Saturday 30th April; 12.00 on Sunday 1 May; 06.00 on Monday 2 May.
	ILO Office Beijing: China	Several events were held in China for World Day. For example there was an event at one of the building sites for the Olympic games promoting the message "Safety first", which was well-attended by the media. This photo, from the local press, shows the Director of the ILO-Beijing office at the event.
Subregional Office New Delhi
	India	Many communications activities were planned, including the wide dissemination of posters in Hindi and other Indian languages to social partners and professional bodies.
	ILO Office Islamabad: Pakistan	As in previous years, ILO Pakistan, in collaboration with the constituents, held various activites to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April. The All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU) organized a national level triparite event to promote a preventative safety and health culture.
	ILO Office Dhaka: Bangladesh	The OHSE Foundation organised a series of interactive events including a round table discussion programme at the National Press Club, Dhaka, and a safety rally for trade unions and other stakeholders, similar to its activities in 2004. There was also a 'special commemoration gathering' for occupational deaths and a one minute silence with candle lighting at Muktangon Area at 7pm on 28 April.
	ILO Office Colombo: Sri Lanka	To mark this special day, the following events and activities were planned : Opening of the Occupational Safety and Health Auditorium by the Minister of Labour in the morning of the 28th. This event was organised by the Occupational Safety and Health division of the Ministry of Labour, and a tripartite audience was invited. The ILO Director delivered a speech. The media were invited to this event. Under the SOLVE Programme supported by ILO/SAFEWORK, the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) has developed and translated into local languages a brochure titled "Psychosocial Hazards at Work". This brochure was launched at the opening of the Occupational Safety and Health Auditorium on the 28th. The ILO sponsored a Programme conducted by Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) in the afternoon of 28 April for 50 employers on "Safety Culture" to mark World Day. The two World Day posters have been translated into the local languages and printed for distribution. The World Day report has also been translated into Sinhala and Tamil and distributed. The press release was sent out to the print and electronic media
Subregional Office Manila
	Philippines	ILO-Manila prepared to celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work in collaboration with its tripartite partner organizations using posters and other products. In coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OHSC), the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) celebrated April 28 by candle lighting ceremonies, encouraging employers and local people to join in.
	ILO Office Jakarta: Indonesia	DK3N and the IAKKI (Indonesian Safety Professional Association) held a Symposium on Fire and Safety Engineering on 26-27 April. On 28 April the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration opened a National Coordination Seminar of DK3N offices. The theme of the Seminar was "The role of universities and OSH associations in national development". The IAKKI congress, at which it elects its general chairman was also held in connection with World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
	ILO Office Suva: Fiji	ILO Suva has focused this year on school students' awareness as a means towards creating a preventative safety and health culture. The event on 28 April included speeches concerning a programme on safety and health awareness conducted in a school. The speeches were by the Minister for Labour, the Director of the ILO Office for the South Pacific and by a student from the school involved in the programme. The event was televised by the Ministry of Information and the recording distributed to other educational institutions and to the media. All local media were invited to the event, and tripartite messages for World Day published in newspapers. A drama staged by the Ministry of Labour was also part of the event.
Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (RO-Geneva)
	ILO Office Paris: France	The French Ministry of Labour has issued a press release in which it whole-heartedly associates itself with World Day, welcoming the initiative and indicating its support for the development of a framework convention for the promotion of occupational safety and health. The Ministry also indicates that the French government plans to ratify two further ILO Conventions: No. 176 on safety in mines and No. 184 on safety and health in agriculture. The ILO Office in Paris' communications department has informed the French press about World Day. The University of Savoy (IREGE department) organized a conference on managing health and safety at work on 7-8 April 2005 as part of World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Academics and practitioners met to discuss the issue from the point of view of human resource management.
	ILO Office London: United Kingdom	The ILO Office in London issued a press release for World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The UK social partners organise a number of activities, on which there is more information on the TUC website.
	ILO Office Berlin: Germany	On 27 April the ILO Berlin Office together with the Federation of Institutions for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention (HVBG) held a press conference on the construction industry in Germany. On 28 April 2005 there was ILO representation at a conference in Thuringia, organized primarily by the Minister for Social Affairs, Family and Health of the State of Thuringiaon the issue of SafeWork for Young People. Finally the ILO participated in the launch of a new initiative in Saxony to promote workplace health and safety. The intiative, called Arbeitsschutz-Allianz Sachsen includes government, employers' organizations, workers' organizations, as well as insurance and trade groups. These partners intend to work together to improve the provision of occupational safety and health in the face of changing economic and working conditions.
	ILO Office Madrid: Spain	At least 20 regional and sectoral trade unions in Spain organized a variety of events, ranging from marches to seminars to competitions and a video-forum for 28 April this year.
	ILO Office Rome: Italy	In collaboration with the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) the ILO Rome Branch Office (RBO) organized a press conference which over 50 journalists attended. The ILO Report "Prevention: a Global Strategy" (available on this web site under "Products") was presented to the Italian media by the RBO Director, Mr Claudio Lenoci and the national Report of INAIL was presented by the Director-General of INAIL.
	ILO Office Lisbon: Portugal	A number of substantial activities have been organized on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work: The ILO Lisbon Director participated in a session to be held in the Portuguese Parliament, on the 28 the April, to commemorate the World Day for Safety and Health. The session was organized jointly by the Parliament and by the Portuguese Institute for Safety and Health, and during this public ceremony, the Director of the ILO Office in Lisbon signed a Protocol with the Institute. This act constitutes an important step to the strengthening of the cooperation between ILO and the Institute. ILO Lisbon also participated in an event to be held in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira and organized by the Labour General Directorate to commemorate World Day for Safety and Health at Work. A paper was presented by the ILO on its safety and health programmes. A number of press activities took place and the report was translated into Portuguese and dissseminated among constituents. In addition, the government of the autonomous region of the Azores (Portugal) organized three conferences on three different islands of the region on 27, 28 and 29 April 2005 via the regional labour inspectorate. The theme of the conferences was "Promoting a safety and health culture - a global strategy for the reduction of work-related accidents and diseases"
	ILO Office Brussels: Belgium	Belgian, European & International Trade Unions and the ILO distributed leaflets at the Central Train Station of Brussels as part of a nation-wide effort. They also hosted on-the-spot news conferences at the station to highlight the day's actions. The leaflets are aimed at improving occupational health and safety in small and medium sized enterprises.
	ILO Office Brussels: Luxemburg	Luxemburg this year became the twelfth government to officially adopt 28 April as World Day For Health and Safety At Work. Following the ICFTU and ILO recognition of 28 April, the Confédération Générale du Travail du Luxembourg last 21st March requested that the Luxemburg government adopt the day formally. On 8 April, 2005 the Minister of Labour, François Biltgen obtained acceptance of the proposal from his Government Council. In order to follow up soon with practical measures there are now calls for a meeting with representatives of trade unions, employers, accident insurance bodies, along with the Labour Ministry to discuss details for a national-level awareness raising campaign.
	ILO Office Brussels: The Netherlands	The Sinzheimer Institut in Amsterdam has published a report on Work Related Casualties in the Netherlands. There is a summary in English on page 14 of the report, which is in Dutch.
	Finland	A World Day Conference took place in Finland which the ILO's Executive Director of the Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Sector , Mr. Kari Tapiola attended.
	Sweden	The NIWL and the SWEA held a half-day seminar on April 28 under the title of "Kan den 'nya' ohälsan förebyggas? (Can the 'new' illhealth be prevented?)" The Swedish Minister for Working Life Issues, Hans Karlsson, gave an introductory presentation entitled "Kan Sverige fortsätta att ha en progressiv arbetsmiljöpolitik? (Can Sweden continue to have progressive politics related to the work environment?)". There were additional short presentations concerning 'Do we export the risky jobs?', 'Can psycho-social illhealth be prevented?', 'Do occupational health services have a role to play in the future?', 'Which is the role of ILO?', 'Does labour law have a future, internationally seen?'. There was a final discussion led by the Director Generals of NIWL and SWEA.
	Denmark	The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and Confederation of Salaried Employees and Civil Servants of Denmark (FTF) encouraged affiliates to take part in marking 28 April by organising meetings throughout the country, producing articles in the trade journals and local media and putting up workplace bill-board notices and information.
	Israel	The Israeli Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene (IIOSH) marked the ILO World Day for Safety and Health at Work by a special section at its website. It contains information mainly on construction safety in Hebrew and in English, links to related events worldwide and the ILO-designed emblem and poster.
	Greece	The Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (ELINYAE) decided to celebrate the World Day for Safety and Health at Work by hanging a giant poster (size 40,32 square metres ) of one of the posters on the front of their building.
Subregional Office Budapest	Poland	This year, as in previous years, events have been organised both by the public administration and social partners. One such event is the solemn plenary meeting of the Labour Protection Council, functioning at the Polish Parliament, on 27 April. Among the participants in the meeting were: the Speaker of the Lower Chamber of the Polish Parliament, members of Parliament, representatives of the government, of research-development institutes, trade unions, employers' organisations, and the National Labour Inspectorate. Accident rates and occupational hazards were discussed at the meeting, with special attention to the hazards in construction, forestry and road transport. Much attention was paid to the preventive activities and campaigns. At the same time, in the District Labour Inspectorates' premises all over the country, wide-scale information activities have been planned to be conducted jointly with social partners. These include: meetings of the Labour Protection Commissions, contests and other events. Leaflets and brochures on work safety and health were distributed among the participants in the events organized.
	Macedonia	The Macedonian Occupational Safety and Health Association (MOSHA) celebrated World Day as follows: On April 26 and 27 a seminar on "Risk Assessment: New Regulation to be proposed to the Government" took place. Occupational Safety and Health professionals from various companies throughout Macedonia participated. The Director of the Labour Inspectorate, the State Secretary and Representative from the Government were present and expressed their full support for MOSHA's initiative. On April 28 MOSHA published this year's World Day emblem in one of the biggest national daily newspapers and gave several interviews to the local media.
	Hungary	On the 28. April 2005 MSZOSZ - the National Confederation of Hungarian Trade Unions - organized a memorial event with trade unionists and media, aimed at raising public awareness. At the event MSZOSZ leaders together with representative of ETUC /TUTB addressed the participants and highlighted the problems and key issues regarding occupational safety and health.
	Lithuania	The Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation organised "trade union days" throughout the country from April 25-29. There were special activities on 28 April in co-operation with the State Labour Inspection and its regional offices. Employees were able to obtain information on labour safety and security.
	Ukraine	The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) published a special article in its trade union newspaper to highlight 28 April. The KVPU youth committee distributed leaflets and a special commemoration ceremony took place at the Golubitskii church in the city of Pavlograd, in the Donbass coal extracting region where the majority of mines are located. Union offices have encouraged members to light commemoration candles on 28 April.
Subregional Office Moscow	Russian Federation	A conference took place in Moscow with participation of ILO-Moscow and ILO-Headquarters, as well as a meeting of all the regional occupational safety and health centres. A number of printed materials, translated and produced by ILO-Moscow, including the World Day Report, the ILO Code of Practice on occupational safety and health in the construction industry and the ILO training manual on safety at construction sites, have been disseminated to all Russian occupational safety and health sites. In addition, the ILO-Moscow office has conducted considerable communications activities to mobilize stakeholders, including regular emails to key partners and three interviews with specialist journals for occupational safety and health and construction. It has also produced a multimedia presentation to promote World Day. For more information in English and Russian from ILO-Moscow's region, please consult the web site.