Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection: Today is the World Day for Safety and Health at Work
This awareness campaign aims to draw public attention to occupational safety and health issues and to the facts of work-related injuries and diseases, including fatal ones.
HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAY
The first event was held by trade unions and workers in the USA and Canada in 1989. Thus, they honored the memory of colleagues who died at work. The problem turned out to be relevant for many countries. Ten years later, similar actions took place all over the world, in more than a hundred countries. In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO) proposed to officially celebrate this day. Today, it is celebrated by 175 countries, including the Republic of Belarus. Each year the holiday is held under a specific slogan.
In June 2022, participants of the International Labour Conference (ILC) decided to include the issue of a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO's fundamental principles and rights at work.
The fundamental principles and rights at work include:
- freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
- the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
- the effective abolition of child labour;
- the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
- safety and health at work.
The theme of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2023: ”A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work“.
On this day, round tables, exhibitions, conferences, and forums dedicated to topical issues of occupational safety and health are held.
On the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, it is recommended to hold the following events in organizations:
of events:
- inspection of structural divisions (departments, sections, warehouses, etc.) to verify the actual state of working conditions and labor protection;
- issuance of a final document (order, directive)
- based on the results of the conducted inspection of structural divisions, indicating measures to eliminate identified shortcomings and their funding sources;
- meetings of the labor protection commission;
- meetings in work collectives, where issues concerning the state of working conditions and labor protection, fulfillment of sections of the collective agreement, and employees' compliance with labor protection requirements are considered;
- labor protection contests among structural divisions, employees for the best workplace, section, workshop, knowledge of labor protection rules, production and technological instructions, etc.;
- preventive discussions with employees on electrical safety issues, and first aid to victims
- in production;
- questionnaires among employees on labor protection issues;
- conducting training sessions for employees on the basics of organizing and conducting labor protection measures;
- meetings with the organization's management staff dedicated to the World Day for Safety and Health at Work;
- conducting conferences, lectures, seminars, various events on production culture, as well as on issues of record-keeping, briefings, and the design of labor protection stands and corners;
- dissemination of information on current labor protection issues in mass media, organization websites, internet channels, and chats.