The ILO brings together governments, employers and workers to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. A safe and healthy working environment is included in the ILO's framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
2. Contents:
β’ About the ILO
β’ Structure of ILO
β’ Occupational Health
β’ ILO and Occupational Health
β’ ILOβs four principal strategic objectives
β’ ILOβs Activities
β’ Objectives
β’ ILO instruments for Occupational Health
β’ References
3. About the ILO
β’ Formation: 1919
β’ 1946-Specialized agency
β’ Type: UN Agency
β’ Headquaters: Geneva, Switzerland
β’ Director General: Gilbert F. Houngbo
4. β’ Examines social
problems
β’ Elect governing
body
β’ Representatives
of the
government,
employers, and
workers in the
ratio 2:1:1
5. Occupational Health
βOccupational Health is the promotion and
maintenance of the highest degree of physical,
mental and social well-being of workers in all
occupations by preventing departures from
health, controlling risks and the adaptation of
work to people, and people to their jobs.β
-ILO/WHO,1950
6. β’ The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a
specialized agency of the United Nations that
develops standards and codes of practice for
occupational safety and health.
β’ The ILO defines health in relation to work as not
only the absence of disease or infirmity, but also
the physical and mental elements that are directly
related to safety and hygiene at work.
β’ The ILO aims to create worldwide awareness and
stimulate practical action to prevent work-related
accidents, injuries and diseases.
ILO and Occupational Health
7. ILOβs four Principal Strategic Objectives
1. To promote and realize standards, and
fundamental principles and rights at work.
2. To create greater opportunities for
women and men to secure decent
employment.
3. To enhance the coverage and
effectiveness of social protection for all.
4. To strengthen tripartism and social
dialogue
8. The 1984 International Labour Conference Resolution
concerning the improvement of the working conditions and
environment laid down the following Principles:
β’ Work should take place in a safe and healthy working
environment;
β’ conditions of work should be consistent with workers' well-
being and human dignity;
β’ work should offer real possibilities for personal achievement,
self-fulfilment, and service to society.
9. ILOβs Activities
β’ The International Labour Organization (ILO) plays a crucial role
in promoting occupational health by establishing standards,
providing guidance, and fostering cooperation among nations.
β’ Its contributions include setting occupational safety and
health standards, offering technical assistance, and
conducting research to improve working conditions globally.
β’ The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted more
than 40 standards specifically dealing with occupational safety
and health, as well as over 40 Codes of Practice.
10. β’ The ILO develops international labour standards in the
field of safety and health at work to guide governments
in setting national laws and regulations and enforcing
their application at the workplace.
β’ Employers and workers and their organizations also have
the framework to improve working conditions and
occupational safety and health.
β’ The protection of the worker against sickness, disease,
and injury arising out of employment is one of the main
objectives of the ILO.
11. β’ The focus in occupational health is on the three different
Objectives:
(i) the maintenance and promotion of workers' health and
working capacity;
(ii) the improvement of working environment and work to
become conducive to safety and health; and
(iii) the development of work organizations and working
cultures in a direction which supports health and safety at
work and in doing so also promotes positive social climate
and smooth operation and may enhance the productivity
of the undertakings.
12. ILO instruments for Occupational Health
ο±Fundamental Conventions on Occupational safety
and health
Up-to-date instrument
β’ C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention,
1981 (No. 155)
β’ C187 - Promotional Framework for Occupational
Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)
13. C155:
The Convention on Occupational Safety and Health
(No.155) and its Recommendation (No. 164) provide
for the adoption of a national occupational safety and
health policy and describe the actions needed at
national and enterprise levels to promote occupational
safety and health and to improve the working
environment.
14. C187:
The Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and
Health Convention (No. 187) and its Recommendation
(No. 197) provide for a national policy, national system,
and national programme to promote continuous
improvement of safety and health at work to prevent
occupational injuries, diseases, and deaths and to take
active steps towards achieving progressively a safe and
healthy working environment by taking into account the
principles set out in the ILO relevant instruments.
15. C171:
The Occupational Health Services Convention (No. 161)
and its Recommendation (No. 171) provide for the
establishment of occupational health services which will
contribute to the implementation of the occupational
safety and health policy and will perform their functions
at the enterprise level.
ο±Nearly half of ILO instruments deal directly or
indirectly with occupational safety and health issues.