The World Day for Safety and Health at Work (WDSHW) is observed every year on April 28, to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and infectious diseases at work. The day is observed by the ILO (International Labour Organization) to raise awareness on the adoption of safe practices in workplaces, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 28 is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.
Theme for the year 2020: Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives.
The theme focuses on addressing the outbreak of infectious disease at work, the COVID-19 pandemic. It also explores measures to prevent and control the risk of contagion, psychosocial risks, ergonomic and other work-related risks associated with the pandemic.
Key Points:
i.The theme for WDSHW announced earlier for 2020 safety and healthy working environments free from violence and harassment has been replaced in the view of the current global crisis.
ii.History of the Day: The World Day for Safety and Health at Work was initiated by the ILO in 2003, in order to stress the prevention of accidents & diseases at work, capitalizing on the ILO’s traditional strengths of tripartism and social dialogue.
iii.This day is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO, as documented in the Conclusions of the International Labour Conference in June 2003.
iv.Emerging risks at work: The emerging risks may be caused by technical innovation or by social or organizational change, such as:
- New technologies and production processes, e.g. nanotechnology, biotechnology.
- New working conditions, e.g. higher workloads, work intensification from downsizing, poor conditions associated with migration for work, jobs in the informal economy.
- Emerging forms of employment, e.g. self-employment, outsourcing, temporary contracts.
About International Labour Organization (ILO):
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland.
Director-General– Guy Ryder.
