In terms of the background of this significant date: 28 April marks the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, dating back to 1996. The notable day was organised by the trade union movement and acknowledged worldwide. In 2003, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) began observing the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April, launching global awareness campaigns aimed at the prevention of accidents and diseases at work.
The history of the ILO is an interesting one – particularly as the organisation pre-dates the establishment of the United Nations. The ILO dates back to 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War 1. The United Nations was created 25 years later, with the ILO becoming its first specialised agency in 1946. ILO has continued to unite governments, employers and employees in support of developing improved labour standards, policies, programmes and solutions to promote decent and safe working environments.
Each year, the theme of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on pressing matters facing the global workforce. The theme for this year is The Impacts of Climate Change on Occupational Safety and Health, and will include insights into factors such as:
- Excessive heat and solar UV radiation
- Extreme weather events
- Air pollution and vector-borne diseases
- The impact of agrochemicals
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also emphasises the impacts of climate change on factors such as the mental health of employees, increased economic burdens faced (for example, decreased worker productivity due to uncomfortable weather conditions, increased costs to combat climate change impacts) and occupational health equity concerns (due to certain workers, such as outdoor workers, facing higher risks than others).
There is also the question of legislative transformation when it comes to climate change. Speaking on the issue, Sanjay Munnoo, Chief Business Development Officer at The Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) and President of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) said, “Occupational Health and Safety legislation and regulations should be aimed at facilitating an increased level of enforcement and monitoring, taking into account the dynamics of climate change. This is particularly key for high-risk sectors such as construction and mining”.
The ILO will be having a global event on 25 April 2024 with experts including employers, employees and government representatives weighing in on these topics as well as other critical climate change concerns. Based on this theme, ILO will also be launching a new report titled Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate which will provide data and insights into the alarming situation facing employers, workers and communities.
