Topic portal
Safety and health at work
Occupational safety and health at work is about protecting lives, preventing harm and ensuring that every worker can carry out their job in safety and dignity. Across the world, millions of people continue to face unsafe and unhealthy working conditions that can lead to injury, illness or death. As recognized by the ILO in 2022, a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work and a key building block of decent work, social justice and sustainable development.
The ILO works with governments, employers and workers to promote a strong culture of prevention and to improve safety and health at national, sectoral and workplace levels. Through its Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2024–30, the ILO supports action to strengthen national systems, improve workplace practices and respond to both longstanding and emerging risks, including those linked to climate change, new technologies and changing forms of work. This portal brings together key standards, data, tools and knowledge to support safer and healthier working environments for all.
2.93 million
workers die each year as a result of work-related factors
395 million
workers worldwide sustain a non-fatal work injury each year
2.41 billion
workers are exposed to excessive heat each year
$361 billion
could be saved globally by implementing improved safety and health measures to prevent injuries from excessive heat in the workplace
World day for safety and health at work
Let's ensure a healthy psychosocial working environment
News and stories
Decent work in coffee
ILO takes decent work push across Ethiopia’s coffee heartlands
Brazil: Tripartite dialogue advances occupational safety and health in the coffee sector
Areas of Work
Development Cooperation
Safety + Health for All
The Programme mobilizes development cooperation resources to improve the safety and health of workers worldwide.
Projects
Improving resilience in the fisheries and aquaculture supply chains in Region XII of the Philippines
OSH
Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Systems in Guyana
Safety + Health for All
Ensuring integration of occupational safety and health within the GFC Implementation Programmes
Normative instruments
- The Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and its Recommendation (No. 164)
- The Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 187) and its Recommendation (No. 197)
More information
- Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981
- Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) and Recommendation, 1985 (No. 171)
- List of Occupational Diseases Recommendation, 2002 (No. 194)
- Protection of Workers' Health Recommendation, 1953 (No. 97)
- Welfare Facilities Recommendation, 1956 (No. 102)
- Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) and Recommendation, 1960 (No. 114)
- Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) and Recommendation, 1974 (No. 147)
- Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148) and Recommendation, 1977 (No. 156)
- Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) and Recommendation, 1986 (No. 172)
- Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) and Recommendation, 1990 (No. 177)
- Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174) and Recommendation, 1993 (No. 181)
- White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13)
- Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119) and Recommendation, 1963 (No. 118)
- Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) and Recommendation, 1967 (No. 128)
- Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) and Recommendation, 1971 (No. 144)
- Anthrax Prevention Recommendation, 1919 (No. 3)
- Lead Poisoning (Women and Children) Recommendation, 1919 (No. 4)
- White Phosphorus Recommendation, 1919 (No. 6)
- Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) and Recommendation, 1964 (No. 120)
- Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167) and Recommendation, 1988 (No. 175)
- Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) and Recommendation, 1995 (No. 183)
- Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) and Recommendation, 2001 (No. 192)
Conventions C155 and C187 global ratification campaign
The ILO has launched a ratification campaign for the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), now recognized as fundamental Conventions.
Latest publications and documents
ILO training package
ILO Training package on the ILO Guidelines on decent work and socially responsible tourism
ILO Working Paper 178
Climate-Related Heat Stress and Occupational Mortality in Colombia
Report for the Technical meeting (Geneva, 28 September - 2 October 2026)
Occupational Safety and Health in Retail in a Changing World of Work: Risks, Prevention and the Role of Technology
Statistics and databases
National OSH Profiles
This database provides access to national OSH profiles and national OSH policies and/or programmes, if available, for ILO member States. It showcases the progress made toward ratification and implementation of the fundamental OSH conventions.
Training courses
The International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-Turin) provides a variety of free and paid courses online and in-person courses related to occupational safety and health.
For more information
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Contact: [email protected]ILO Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch (OSHE)