Introducing the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2019

Safety and Health and the future of work - 28 April 2019

 
Inspired by the ILO centenary anniversary and discussions on the future of work, the world day this year attempts to take stock of a 100 years of work in improving occupational safety and health and looks to the future for continuing these efforts through major changes such as technology, demographics, sustainable development including climate change and changes in work organization.

The official World Day on 28 April 2019 will only be the beginning of worldwide events and activities to continue throughout the rest of the year, around the theme of safety and health and the future of work, celebrating and building on the wealth of knowledge and action accumulated over 100 years as we get ready to face and appreciate the changes brought forward by the future of work we want.

The ILO will launch a global report to that effect, sharing the story of a 100 years in saving lives and promoting safe and healthy working environments. The report attempts to capture the evolution of safety and health from before the inception of the ILO in 1919 to date, going through the major turning points that have influenced this field and have influenced the way ILO has contributed to improving safety and health at work.

More importantly, the global report will touch upon the changes in work arrangements, technology (digitalisation and ICT, platform work, automation and robotics), demographics, globalisation, climate change, and other drivers that are affecting the dynamics of safety and health and the nature of professions in this area, notwithstanding the persistent traditional and re-emerging risks and variations across developing and developed countries.

To add further depth to the discussion, the ILO will feature 33 original think pieces from the real faces of the occupational safety and health community from around the world who will share strong messages and testimonials on OSH and the future of work from a variety of expert and practical aspects