International Standards

and the

International Labour Organisation

Industrial Revolution …. World War 1 …Industrial Revolution …. World War 1 …Industrialised Countries … Poor working Industrialised Countries … Poor working conditions … High rates of unemployment … :conditions … High rates of unemployment … :

Constitution of the Constitution of the ILOILO (1919)(1919)

Set up for:-Set up for:-

History and Goals of the ILOHistory and Goals of the ILO

Humanitarian reasons Political reasons Economic reasons

The Golden Age of Standard Setting The Golden Age of Standard Setting 

The International Labour Organisation

and their

Safe Work

philosophy

•Stress•Ageing workforce•Right to know•Chemicals•Ergonomics•Management and safety culture•Occupational health services•New technologies•etc.

Safe Work – Priorities in Industrialised Countries

Safe Work - Priorities in Developing Countries

•Agriculture•Other dangerous occupations•Major accidents and fires•Safety, housekeeping and productivity•Silicosis - work related diseases•Vulnerable groups, child workers•Transfer of technology•etc.

• At enterprise level:

ILO-OSH 2001“Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems”

• At national level:

National OSH Programme

Management systemManagement systemapproachapproach

ClassicalClassicalapproachapproach

ILO Standards (Conventions, Recommendations, Codes of Practice) ratified, adapted into national regulation

Enforcement and advisory services by Labour Inspection

Knowledge: information services and research

Advocacy: training, promotion, partnerships

Alliances, technical cooperation and twinning, and resource mobilization

ILO Strategies

• Reliable and valid

• Easily available• Easily

comprehensible• Demonstrative• Instructive

• Part of an integrated approach towards better OSH

• Stimulate action for improvement

• Indicate strong/weak points of national OSH system

• Assist in setting priorities for action

• Used for follow up

National IndicatorsNational Indicators National OSH ProgrammeNational OSH ProgrammeCountry ProfileCountry Profile

ILO - National Indicators

Should be:-

National IndicatorsNational Indicators National OSH ProgrammeNational OSH ProgrammeCountry ProfileCountry Profile

• Standards should be prepared at country level

• Include basic data on all parameters with influence on OSH management at national and enterprise level

• Provide practical information on ongoing activities at country level

• Enable the country to identify gaps in the legal, institutional, administrative and technical infrastructure related to the management of OSH

• Provide means for improved coordination among all parties interested in OSH

ILO - Country profile

Occupational Safety and Health Standards

Conventions and Recommendations

• The development and implementation of international standards on labour and social matters is a key function of the International Labour Organisation

• The standards take the form of Conventions and Recommendations.

• More than 70 address occupational safety and health matters.

Conventions

• Conventions are comparable to multilateral international treaties: – they are open to ratification by member

States – once ratified, create specific, binding

obligations. • A State that has ratified a Convention is

expected to apply its provisions by legislation or by other appropriate means

• The Government is required to report regularly on the application of ratified Conventions.

• Conventions that have not been ratified have the same value as Recommendations.

Recommendations

• Recommendations offer guidelines for action.

• A Recommendation may elaborate upon the

provisions of a Convention.

• Member States procedural obligations – to submit to legislative bodies – to report on the action resulting and to

report occasionally at the request of the Governing Body

• There are no specific substantive obligations

Summary on Conventions and Recommendations

• Both influence laws and regulations of member States.

• • Many texts have been modeled on the

relevant provisions of ILO instruments

• Drafts of new legislation or amendments are often prepared with ILO standards in mind so as to ensure compliance with ratified Conventions or to permit the ratification of other Conventions

Four categories of occupational safety and health standards

• Guiding policies for action. • Protection in given branches of economic

activity.

• Protection against specific risks.

• Measures of protection.

The Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981 No. 155 and Recommendation (No. 164)

• Progressive application of comprehensive preventive measures

• Adoption of a coherent national policy on occupational safety and health.

• The responsibility of employers for making work and equipment safe and without risk to health

• The duties and rights of workers.

The Occupational Health Services Convention 1985 (No.161) and

Recommendation (No. 171)

• Occupational health services – preventive functions – responsible for advising employers,

workers and their representatives on maintaining a safe and health working environment,

– adaptation of work to the capabilities of workers.

• Emphasis – roles– best use of resources and cooperation