Resources on Occupational Safety and Health by industry/sector

  1. Caring for those who care – Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers

    18 February 2022

  2. Caring for those who care: National Programmes for Occupational Health for Health Workers

    22 October 2021

    This policy brief, jointly produced by WHO and ILO, is intended to provide a short overview on the issues and recommendations for policy decision-makers in ministries of health and ministries of employment and labour; local authorities; managers of health facilities; professional associations of the various groups of health workers; and organizations of workers and employers in the health sector.

  3. Caring for those who care: National Programmes for Occupational Health for Health Workers

    19 October 2021

    A joint ILO-WHO policy brief

  4. COVID-19: Occupational health and safety for health workers

    05 February 2021

    This WHO-ILO document provides guidance on occupational health and safety measures for health workers and occupational health services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also outlines the rights and responsibilities for health and safety at work for health workers according to the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The document is intended for employers and health-facility managers, health workers and their representatives, occupational health and safety experts, infection prevention and control experts in public and private health facilities and policy-makers at national and subnational levels.

  5. © The National Guard 2022
    COVID-19 and care workers providing home or institution-based care

    16 October 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the already overburdened and understaffed home and institution-based care sector in many countries. This brief highlights the challenges faced in the recruitment, deployment, retention and protection of sufficient numbers of well-trained and motivated care workers. Sustainable investment in health and social care systems, including in the workforce itself, and in decent working conditions are needed to ensure the preparedness and resilience of the sector in times of crisis and beyond. Ensuring that care workers, together with their employers and other relevant stakeholders have an opportunity to make their voices heard is critical if they are to play a full and active role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  6. COVID-19 and health facilities: Checklist of measures to be taken in health facilities

    15 July 2020

    This checklist applies the ILO-WHO HealthWISE participatory, action-orientated approach to prevent COVID-19 infection in health facilities and protect health personnel. HealthWISE is a practical, participative method for improving the quality of workplaces and practices in health facilities. This checklist with a focus on how to protect health personnel during the response to COVID-19 has been drawn up by the ILO (International Labour Organization) in consultation with WHO (World Health Organization) and with the support of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund of the joint ILO-OECD-WHO programme Working for Health (version 1, June 2020).

  7. © PJeganathan 2022
    COVID-19 and the health sector

    26 June 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is drawing attention to the already overburdened public health systems in many countries, and to the challenges faced in recruiting, deploying, retaining and protecting sufficient well-trained, supported and motivated health workers. It highlights the strong need for sustainable investment in health systems, including in the health workforce, and for decent working conditions, training and equipment, especially in relation to personal protective equipment and occupational safety. Social dialogue is essential to building resilient health systems, and therefore has a critical role both in crisis response and in building a future that is prepared for health emergencies.

  8. © M. Rakibul Hasan / UN Women 2022
    Tripartite meeting highlights the importance of improving health sector employment and working conditions

    11 May 2017

    Decent work is crucial to ensuring effective and resilient health systems, addressing global health workforce shortages and achieving equal access to quality health care.

  9. © Asian Development Bank 2022
    UN Commission: New Investments in Global Health Workforce Will Create Jobs and Drive Economic Growth

    20 September 2016

    The Presidents of France and South Africa called for urgent investments globally to create new jobs in the health sector in order to prevent a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers primarily in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and help countries to maximize the social and economic benefits of increased health employment.

  10. Social dialogue in the health services: A tool for practical guidance – The handbook for practitioners

    01 January 2005