The International Labour Organisation (ILO) coordinated a series of events around the world in order to mark the world day for health and safety at work [1] on 28 April 2003. An 'international commemoration day for dead and injured workers' has been organised worldwide on 28 April by the trade union movement each year since 1996, coordinated by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). The ILO has marked the day since 2001 and its 'world day for health and safety at work' aims to bring 'tripartite strength' to the initiative.[1] http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm
A world day for health and safety at work was organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 28 April 2003 in order to draw attention to work-related accidents and illnesses.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) coordinated a series of events around the world in order to mark the world day for health and safety at work on 28 April 2003. An 'international commemoration day for dead and injured workers' has been organised worldwide on 28 April by the trade union movement each year since 1996, coordinated by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). The ILO has marked the day since 2001 and its 'world day for health and safety at work' aims to bring 'tripartite strength' to the initiative.
Government, worker and employer representatives participated in a round-table discussion on 28 April 2003, focusing on how to create and promote a health and safety culture in a 'globalised world'. Special attention was given to prevention techniques that have proved to be effective in both avoiding occupational accidents and disease and improving business performance.
The ILO has also produced a booklet to coincide with the world day, entitled Safety in numbers. This reviews the extent of workplace illness, injury and death. It maintains that work-related accidents and illnesses contribute to an increased incidence of early retirement and absence from work. Further, it estimates that around one-third of all unemployed people’s situation may stem from impairment of working capacity due to illness. It cites ILO data which show that some 5,000 job-related deaths occur each day, equating to some 2 million a year. In addition, around 270 million occupational accidents and 160,000 occupational diseases occur each year. The report also estimates that some 12,000 child labourers die each year from work-related causes. The ILO states that deaths, injuries and sickness reduce the world’s annual gross domestic product by 4%.
The ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia, stated that: 'Fatalities, accidents and illness at work can be prevented. We must promote a new safety culture in the workplace – wherever work is done – backed by appropriate national policies and programmes to make workplaces safer and healthier for us all.'
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Eurofound (2003), ILO organises world health and safety at work day, article.
