The ILO strengthens workplace safety and health in Côte d’Ivoire rubber seed oil supply chain

Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire (ILO News) – In Côte d’Ivoire’s rubber seed oil supply chain, workers and producers are exposed daily to numerous occupational hazards: ergonomic risks (manual handling of heavy loads, awkward postures and repetitive movements), physical hazards (slips, trips and falls), high noise levels, fires and explosions, injuries caused by the use of dangerous tools and equipment, insect bites that can transmit diseases, and snakebites. Thanks to a joint initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Eni S.p.A., strategies are beginning to be put in place to protect the safety and health of workers throughout the value chain.

From 30 March to 3 April 2026, 36 key stakeholders—including producers and workers from companies and cooperatives, representatives of government agencies responsible for labour, occupational safety and health (OSH), and the rubber sector, as well as representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and the private sector—gathered in Daloa for an intensive five-day training on occupational safety and health. Drawing on the ILO’s globally recognized WIND (Work Improvement in Neighbourhood Development) methodology, participants learned how to identify and assess occupational risks inherent in the sector and implement simple, practical and affordable preventive measures on their farms, at their workplaces and in their businesses.

© ILO

© ILO

Far from being limited to theoretical presentations, the training alternated between participatory classroom sessions, practical risk assessment exercises and a visit to a rubber plantation, where participants led OSH awareness-raising sessions for eleven local producers. At the end of the week, participants developed concrete action plans to improve occupational safety and health in workplaces and communities.

“The training opened our eyes to hazards we encounter every day without realizing their consequences. We are leaving with practical tools and the responsibility to share them with our peers.” — a rubber producer and participant.

The ILO will follow up on the implementation of the action plans in collaboration with ENI and ENE Côte d’Ivoire through phone calls, interviews and field visits. A second training workshop is already planned in Guiglo in July 2026, helping to extend the initiative to other producing regions.

“The training is not limited to transferring knowledge—it aims to create occupational safety and health champions who will take these lessons beyond their farms and businesses, bringing about lasting changes in practices throughout the rubber value chain.” — Bernard FOE A, ILO workshop facilitator.

Every year, poor occupational safety and health practices cost the lives of more than 3 million people worldwide. By deploying proven solutions such as WIND directly among workers and producers in the field, the ILO is helping ensure that workers and producers in Côte d’Ivoire’s rubber seed sector can carry out their activities not only productively, but also safely and with dignity.