ILO tools and resources for safety and health at work in recovery and reconstruction following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami

In recovery efforts after natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami, in areas where roads have suffered great damage and the supplies of water, electricity, and other utilities are cut off, work is carried out amidst the scatter of fallen trees and other debris; because this kind of worksite differs in many ways from regular worksites, it is essential to pay increased attention to, and to take extra measures to protect the health and safety of, workers. The ILO has provided international labor standards to secure the health and safety of workers and, including practical guidelines, operational rules that cover various points to keep in mind to protect worker health and safety. Of these, the most relevant to work connected with recovery and reconstruction after earthquakes and other natural disasters is the Convention Concerning Safety and Health in Construction (No. 167) (unratified by Japan). Other ILO documents dealing with occupational health and safety in the construction industry include 'How to prevent accidents on small construction sites' and the ILO Code of Practice — 'Safety and health in construction', and the “Disaster, Natural and Technological” chapter in the 'ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety'. Besides the things mentioned in the Convention, another especially important concern in recovery and reconstruction after an earthquake is how to deal with asbestos and dust.