Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) - Manual for Labour-Based Rural Road Construction and Maintenance

Unemployment and poverty remain pressing challenges in many rural and underdeveloped areas, where infrastructure deficits constrain economic growth and access to essential services. Through its Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), the ILO promotes local resource-based and employment-intensive approaches to rural infrastructure development, including the construction and maintenance of access roads. While these projects generate much-needed jobs and stimulate local economies, they also present significant occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that require careful management.

This OSH Manual serves as a practical and comprehensive resource to safeguard the safety and well-being of workers engaged in rural road construction and maintenance. Targeted at clients, consultants, contractors, supervisors, technicians, experts, as well as workers and their representatives, the manual provides step-by-step guidance on hazard identification, risk mitigation, safe construction methodologies, and compliance with labour standards in employment-intensive worksites. Through detailed illustrations, checklists and practical examples, it bridges theory and practice to support safer and more efficient project implementation.

Aligned with the EIIP approach and the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, the manual promotes fair working conditions, social protection and inclusive community development, while optimizing the use of local labour, materials and tools. By addressing both employment creation and workplace safety, it contributes to the broader goals of poverty reduction and sustainable economic development.