Topic portal
Safety and health at work
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work. Thus, all Members have an obligation arising from the very fact of membership in the ILO to respect, to promote and to realize, in good faith and in accordance with the ILO Constitution, the principles concerning this fundamental principle and right.
Despite this important decision and the significant progress in occupational safety and health (OSH), work-related accidents and diseases still occur too frequently, with devastating impacts on workers, enterprises and entire communities and economies.
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
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
Labour administration
Improving Labour Governance in Papua New Guinea
Towards a safe and healthy working environment in North Macedonia
Project
Realizing trade gains free from gender discrimination and child labour (RealGains)
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)
Global Ratification Campaign on C155 and C187
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.
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.
Most recent publications
Road map to a green cocoa value chain in Timor-Leste: Business and skills development along with environmental sustainability, amid...
Brief
Pesticide application practices in tea and vegetable farming in Suryodaya Municipality, Ilam District, Nepal
Kingdom of Eswatini
National Occupational Safety and Health Policy
Databases and other resources
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.
News and articles
#WorldAIDSDay2025
Strengthening workplace equality during wartime: ILO marks World AIDS Day
Decent work
Brazilian coffee unions and cooperatives strengthen safety and health
Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2024-2030 and plan of action for its implementation
Following the inclusion of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work, the ILO Governing Body endorsed the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and health 2024-2030 and plan of action for its implementation.
Contact
Contact the Occupational Safety and Health and Working Environment Branch (OSHE) for more information.