WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, 28 APRIL 2015

Join in building a culture of prevention on OSH

ILO STANDARDS ON OSH

The promotion of decent, safe, and healthy working of OSH, including organizational measures and
conditions and environments has been a continuous procedures on core OSH standards;
objective of the ILO since it was founded in 1919. ºº good practices concerning general protection
The ILO Constitution sets forth: measures, such as the control of air pollution, noise
and vibration in the working environment;
“And whereas conditions of labour exist involving
such injustice, hardship and privation to large ºº protection in specific branches of economic activity,
numbers of people as to produce unrest so great such as agriculture, mining and construction; and
that the peace and harmony of the world are
imperilled; and an improvement of those conditions ºº protection against specific risks; prevention of
is urgently required; as, for example, by … the occupational cancer, radiation protection, safety in
protection of the worker against sickness, disease the use of chemicals, and the prevention of major
and injury arising out of his employment …” industrial accidents.
This principle was reinforced in 1944, when the
relevance of the ILO was reasserted in the Philadelphia
CORE ILO STANDARDS ON OSH
Declaration:
“The Conference recognizes the solemn obligation ºº The Occupational Safety and Health
of the International Labour Organization to further Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and its accompanying
among the nations of the world programmes which Recommendation (No. 164) set out the basic
will achieve: ... (g) adequate protection for the life principles for a national and enterprise level
and health of workers in all occupations; …” policy and strategy for the implementation of OSH
preventive and protective measures. The strategy
ILO Conventions and Recommendations on advocated by the Convention calls for action on the
occupational safety and health (OSH) may serve formulation, implementation and periodical review
several purposes, acting as: of a national OSH policy; the full participation at all
ºº fundamental principles to guide national and levels of employers, workers, and their respective
1 enterprise policies for prevention and management organizations, as well as other stakeholders;
the definition of national institutional roles and
 WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, 28 APRIL 2015
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responsibilities; a national system of recording and Occupational health services are entrusted
notification of occupational accidents and diseases; with essentially preventive functions and are
the implementation of OSH at the workplace responsible for establishing and maintaining a
level, employers’ responsibilities, and rights of safe and healthy working environment which will
workers and their representatives; and requirements facilitate optimal physical and mental health and
regarding information, education, and training. for the adaptation of work to the capabilities of
The Convention is complemented by the Protocol workers. Such services should be multidisciplinary
of 2002 (No. 155) and the List of Occupational and shall enjoy full professional independence
Diseases Recommendation, 2002 (No. 194). The from employers, workers, and their respective
Protocol incorporates further provisions on the representatives, in relation to their functions.
establishment and periodic review of requirements
ºº The Promotional Framework for Occupational
and procedures for the recording and notification
Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)
of occupational accidents and diseases, as well as
and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 197)
for the publication of related annual statistics. The
complement the previous core standards and
Recommendation provides for the regular review
strengthen the requirements for a national
and update through tripartite meetings of experts
structure, relevant stakeholders responsible for
of the list of occupational diseases included in
implementing a national and enterprise level
the Annex. The new list, approved in March 2010,
policy for safe and healthy working environments;
reflects the latest knowledge on the identification
as well as the steps to be taken to build and
and recognition of occupational diseases. It is a
maintain a preventive safety and health culture at
semi-open list to allow for the recognition of the
the national level. Governments - in consultation
ILO STANDARDS ON OSH

occupational origin of diseases not specified in the

with the most representative organizations of
list, when a link is established between the exposure
employers and workers - must undertake active
to a risk factor arising from work and the disorder
steps towards achieving and maintaining a
contracted by the worker.
safe and healthy working environment by the
ºº The Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 elaboration or updating of national policy; the
(No. 161) and its accompanying Recommendation development or upgrade of a national system; and
(No. 171) provide for the establishment of the implementation of national programmes on
occupational health services at national and OSH. This process must also take into account the
enterprise levels, designated to ensure the principles set out in relevant ILO instruments, as
implementation of the OSH policy and relevant listed in the Annex to Recommendation No. 197.
preventive and control measures, including
2 health surveillance and emergency response.
 WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, 28 APRIL 2015
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PLAN OF ACTION ON OSH employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as

the specific preventive and control measures for
The Plan of Action to achieve widespread ratification the application of such standards. They are not
and effective implementation of the occupational legally binding instruments and are not intended to
safety and health instruments (2010–2016) was adopted replace the provisions of national laws, regulations,
by the ILO Governing Body in March 2010, with the or accepted standards. These Codes can be used
purpose of developing a more holistic and integrated in drawing up national regulations, guidelines and
approach for supporting ILO member States on the collective agreements on OSH in both the public and
fundamental subject of OSH. It builds on the 2003 private sectors. Codes of Practice provide guidance on
Global Strategy on OSH, the Promotional Framework safety and health at work in certain economic sectors
for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, (e.g., construction, opencast mines, coal mines, iron
2006 (No. 187), and the 2009 General Survey on and steel industries, non-ferrous metals industries,
Occupational Safety and Health. The Plan of Action agriculture, shipbuilding and ship repairing, forestry,
outlines strategies for: mapping the current situation etc.); on protecting workers against specific risks
at the national level and the readiness of member (e.g., radiation, lasers, chemicals, asbestos, airborne
States to take action; promoting and supporting the substances); and specific safety and health measures
development of a preventive safety and health culture; (e.g., recording and notification of occupational
overcoming the obstacles in the implementation of accidents and diseases, protection of workers’
ratified Conventions; and improving OSH conditions in personal data, safety, health and working conditions in
small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal the transfer of technology to developing countries).
ILO STANDARDS ON OSH

economy. A report on its implementation will be

presented to the ILO Governing Body in 2016. ILO Guidelines are intended to provide technical
guidance relating to particular areas of OSH (e.g.
management system, workers’ health surveillance,
CODES OF PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES radiation protection, ergonomics, etc.). These
ON OSH guidelines have been designed for use by national
authorities, employers’ and workers’ organizations,
ILO Codes of Practice are presented in the form professional associations, scientific and academic
of detailed technical specifications and practical institutions. They represent useful tools for enterprises
recommendations in legal terminology. They and practitioners in the implementation of OSH
complement existing ILO international standards and measures.
3 explain in detail the responsibilities of governments,
 WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, 28 APRIL 2015
Join in building a culture of prevention on OSH

CONVENTION & RECOMMENDATION (ANNEX R.197) R133 - Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Recommendation,
1969 (No. 133)
C081 - Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
C139 - Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139)
R081 - Labour Inspection Recommendation, 1947 (No. 81)
R147 - Occupational Cancer Recommendation, 1974 (No. 147)
P081 - Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection
Convention, 1947 C148 - Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and
Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148)
R082 - Labour Inspection (Mining and Transport)
Recommendation, 1947 (No. 82) R156 - Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and
Vibration) Recommendation, 1977 (No. 156)
R097 - Protection of Workers’ Health Recommendation,
1953 (No. 97) C152 - Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work)
Convention, 1979 (No. 152)
R102 - Welfare Facilities Recommendation, 1956 (No. 102)
R160 - Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work)
C115 - Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) Recommendation, 1979 (No. 160)

R114 - Radiation Protection Recommendation, 1960 (No. 114) C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981
(No. 155)
R115 - Workers’ Housing Recommendation, 1961 (No. 115)
ILO STANDARDS ON OSH

R164 - Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation,

C120 - Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 1981 (No. 164)
(No. 120)
P155 - Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and
R120 - Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Recommendation, Health Convention, 1981
1964 (No. 120)
C161 - Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985
C121 - Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No.121) (No. 161)

R121 - Employment Injury Benefits Recommendation, 1964 R171 - Occupational Health Services Recommendation, 1985
(No. 121) (No. 171)
4
C129 - Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) C162 - Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162)
 WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, 28 APRIL 2015
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R172 - Asbestos Recommendation, 1986 (No. 172) R183 - Safety and Health in Mines Recommendation, 1995
(No. 183)
C167 - Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988
(No. 167) C184 - Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001
(No. 184)
R175 - Safety and Health in Construction Recommendation,
1988 (No. 175) R192 - Safety and Health in Agriculture Recommendation,
2001 (No. 192)
C170 - Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170)
R194 - List of Occupational Diseases Recommendation,
R177 - Chemicals Recommendation, 1990 (No. 177) 2002 (No. 194)

C174 - Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, C187 - Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and
1993 (No. 174) Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)

R181 - Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents R197 - Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and
Recommendation, 1993 (No. 181) Health Recommendation, 2006 (No. 197)

C176 - Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995

(No. 176)
ILO STANDARDS ON OSH