Safety & Workplace Violence Archives - Page 5 of 9

Home » Archives by category » Topic Categories » Legal » Safety & Workplace Violence (Page 5)

The COVID-19 crisis may lead to mental health issues for many workers

27/04/2020 Comments Off

Lode Godderis, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Belgium
We need to be aware of the long-term consequences on the health of all workers. One can expect a drop out of personnel, not only due to infections with COVID-19, but also due to stress, frustration and isolation.
Big health inequities due to pandemic and economic recession are to be expected. For white coat workers, it will be mainly the mental health toll as a result of the high work load during the crisis. For white collar workers, their mental health will instead suffer from the effects of isolation and quarantine. Finally, for blue collar workers, job insecurity and loss of income could lead to mental health issues.
However, it is possible to turn the tide. If we reflect on previous pandemics followed by an economic recession it becomes clear that countries that invest in social protection, support programs and provide sufficient employment opportunities can mitigate the mental health crisis that follows a pandemic.
The overworked white coat workers will need time to recover from this period at the same time that healthcare services will be pushing for a return to normal operational levels. For people who worked remotely from home during the crisis, it will be important for them to mentally prepare to return to work. This group of people might be wary about returning to work, fearing an increased risk of infection but also uncertain about the future of their job. The final group of workers concerns a large population of people that have already lost their job, are working reduced hours or are facing severe cuts in their wages.
Nathan Laine / Hans Lucas AFP
Recessions typically exacerbate pre-existing health inequities and have a larger impact on the health of vulnerable disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities and diseases and the unemployed. For these workers, we must take extra supportive measures to ensure these populations can resume their roles in society and avoid severe financial or mental health consequences.
So far, pandemic planning has not sufficiently addressed these underlying inequalities and social determinants. However, if we can take advantage of the extraordinary wave of solidarity that we are experiencing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the economic recession might have an unexpected positive impact on our health. This cannot happen without appropriate measures to avoid health inequities.
Governments should develop plans to reduce the gaps in disease burdens both nationally as well as internationally. Efforts should be mainly focussed on the lower social class workers, where measures can yield larger reductions in diseases. International collaboration is also necessary to support low- and lower-middle-income countries in which a large proportion of the citizens are poor.
The presence or absence of supportive policies that target social inequities will dictate the course to financial and mental health security following the COVID-19 crisis. This means that despite a recession, the creation or maintenance of safe jobs will ultimately minimize the impact on health of the workers post-corona.
By Lode Godderis, Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Belgium

This is an extract of an article commissioned to mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
See here for the full blog and the contributions of other Occupational and Safety and Health Experts:

Protect workers both now and after lockdowns ease, says ILO

27/04/2020 Comments Off

© U.S. Pacific Fleet GENEVA (ILO News) – As the pressure mounts on countries to ease their lockdown restrictions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged Governments to take action to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplace, with active involvement and dialogue with employers’ and workers’ organizations. All employers need to carry out risk assessments and ensure their workplaces meet strict occupational safety and health criteria beforehand, to minimize the risk to workers of exposure to COVID-19, says the ILO. Without such controls, countries face the very real risk of a resurgence of the virus. Putting in place the necessary measures will minimize the risk of a second wave of contagion contracted at the workplace. In the face of an infectious disease outbreak, how we protect our workers now clearly dictates how safe our communities are, and how resilient our businesses will be, as this pandemic evolves.” Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General “The safety and health of our entire workforce is paramount today. In the face of an infectious disease outbreak, how we protect our workers now clearly dictates how safe our communities are, and how resilient our businesses will be, as this pandemic evolves,” said the Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder. “It is only by implementing occupational safety and health measures that we can protect the lives of workers, their families and the larger communities, ensure work continuity and economic survival,” Ryder added. In particular, risk control measures should be specifically adapted to the needs of workers at the frontline of the pandemic. These include health workers, nurses, doctors and emergency workers, as well as those in food retail and cleaning services. The ILO also highlighted the needs of the most vulnerable workers and businesses, in particular those in the informal economy, migrant and domestic workers. Measures to protect these workers should include – among others – education and training on safe and healthy work practices, free provision of PPE as needed, access to public health services and livelihood alternatives. On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, I call on all countries to assure well-defined, decent and safe working conditions for all health workers.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for strong national programmes to protect the health and safety of health workers, medical professionals, emergency responders, and the many other workers risking their lives on our behalf,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, I call on all countries to assure well-defined, decent and safe working conditions for all health workers.” To ensure a safe return to work and to avoid further work disruptions, the ILO recommends: Mapping hazards and assessing risks of contagion in relation to all work operations, and continuing to assess them following a return to work. Adopting risk control measures adapted to each sector and the specifics of each workplace and workforce. These may include: – Reducing physical interactions between workers, contractors, customers and visitors and respecting physical distancing when any interactions occur.- Improving ventilation in the workplace.- Regularly cleaning surfaces, ensuring workplaces are clean and hygienic, and providing adequate facilities for handwashing and sanitization. Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to workers where necessary and at no cost. Providing arrangements for isolating suspected cases and tracing every contact. Providing mental health support for staff. Providing training, education and informational material about health and safety at work, including proper hygiene practices and the use of any workplace controls (including PPE).

Are there enough health workers?

03/04/2020 Comments Off

Indonesia to develop its National OSH Programme 2020-2024

01/12/2019 Comments Off

OSH at the workplace: Safety first Around 60 key representatives on occupational safety and health (OSH) gathered in Jakarta to review and finalize proposed activities and programmes in the draft National Occupational Safety and Health Programme 2020-2024. Such draft will be enacted through a Presidential Decree next year. The validation workshop was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Manpower in collaboration with the ILO on 26 November 2019. The National OSH Programme will become a significant reference point for driving a sustainable OSH development in the next five years.” M. Iswandi Hari, Acting Director General on Labour Inspection and OSH Development of the Ministry of Manpower The workshop was an immediate follow-up to the launch and publication of the National OSH Profile last June in Jakarta. The first of its kinds for Indonesia, the Profile summarizes the existing national situation on OSH. The Profile also reviews current legislation and regulations, OSH infrastructure and resources, as well as the national situation of occupational injury and diseases.The Profile acts as the basis for the formulation of the National OSH Programme that defines concrete medium- and long-term objectives on national OSH prevention and mechanism programmes. It also highlights key OSH activities and programmes, objectives and impacts of each activity and programme, roles and responsibilities of each stakeholders and monitoring as well as evaluation mechanism. Strengthening the National OSH System is deemed necessary to show that OSH is a universal language that can be used as a medium of communication and improvement for the life of the nation and people.” Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia A series of meetings had been conducted since the beginning of the year, involving key OSH representatives such as the Ministry of Manpower, National OSH Councils, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, employers’ and workers’ organizations, OSH youth champions, academia, enterprises and other relevant partners. M. Iswandi Hari, Acting Director General on Labour Inspection and OSH Development of the Ministry of Manpower, emphasized the importance of the National OSH Programme for Indonesia. “The National OSH Programme will become a significant reference point for driving a sustainable OSH development in the next five years. And, it plays a crucial role in ensuring the active participation and ownership from line ministries, key labour actors and other relevant stakeholders,” he stated. Meanwhile, Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia, appraised the strong support given by national tripartite constituents to the drafting and development of the National OSH Programme. “Strengthening the National OSH System is deemed necessary to show that OSH is a universal language that can be used as a medium of communication and improvements for the life of the nation and its people. Not many issues or systems in the world have the power to unite many groups in improving the quality of life, especially the economy,” she said. The OSH national meeting to finalize the draft National OSH Programme Regulated by the Presidential Decree on OSH Abdul Hakim, the ILO’s OSH Expert Consultant, presented lessons learnt from other countries related on benefits gained by countries that have developed their national OSH programmes. Japan, for example, has focused its national OSH programme on the prevention of workplace stress; while Bulgaria aims to raise national awareness about issues related to OSH.He also emphasized the statement given by the ILO’s country director regarding the commitment of tripartite stakeholders. “The involvement of trade unions in the process of drafting the National OSH program is important since they are most at risk for accidents and occupational diseases,” Abdul added. It will be a great national momentum to have the Presidential Decree on OSH be officially issued in the national OSH month in January.” Ghazmahadi, OSH Director of the Ministry of Manpower As a follow-up to the validation meeting, the Ministry of Manpower will finalize the final version National OSH Programme based on the final inputs and feedbacks gained in the meeting. “We are going to get the approval of the President of the Republic Indonesia with a view that it will be regulated through the Presidential Decree,” Ghazmahadi, OSH Director of the Ministry of Manpower who led the validation meeting. With the coming national OSH month from 14 January to 14 February, the Ministry of Manpower, with support from the ILO, will aim to have the Presidential Decree issued during the national OSH month. “It will be a great national momentum to have the Presidential Decree on OSH be officially issued in the national OSH month,” hoped Ghazmahadi. Indonesia ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) in 2014 through a Presidential Regulation No. 34 Year 2014, manifesting its national commitment that economic development and improvement of national production should not be conducted at the expense of OSH, and in support of its efforts to promote national OSH culture.

SafeYouth@Work tripartite results and sustainability workshop

15/10/2019 Comments Off

The SafeYouth@Work Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor aims to improve the occupational safety and health (OSH) of young workers above the minimum age of work up to 24 years, and to build a culture of prevention on OSH. From 2015 to 2019, the project implemented a wide range of activities in Viet […]

Innovative OSH platform and game board for young workers

14/07/2019 Comments Off

“The establishment of this interactive communications platform is also marked the continuous efforts taken by Indonesia, with support of the ILO, in promoting OSH awareness and culture prevention for young people in the country,” remarked Abdul Hakim, the ILO’s National Coordinator on OSH. Complementing the portal, a board game named OSHNopoly was also launched. Inspired by the classic board game Monopoly, the OSHNopoly was aimed to raise OSH awareness in a fun and creative way.“Together with the ILO, we have tested the OSHNopoly and we have received good responses. They all said that they can easily understand OSH related issues by playing the game,” told Fadlil Kaafi, one of the ILO’s OSH youth champions who assisted the ILO in the try out sessions and who have developed a short tutorial video on OSHNopoly. [embedded content] Aspirations of young workers about OSH The event was concluded with an interactive talkshow with young workers representing a young employer, a young creative worker, a young unionist and a young university student as a future worker. The talkshow concluded with the notion that most of young workers still lack of understanding and awareness related to OSH while performing the jobs and professions. An interactive talkshow with young workers discussing about the importance of OSH for young workers “Most businesses run by a young employer like me still have a lack of understanding about OSH and the importance of OSH for businesses. Through discussions like this would help us better implementing OSH in our businesses and taking the benefits from the OSH prevention culture in our workplace,” said Ahmad Alviansyah, 24 years old, a young employer in a shoe cleaning business. We do not even realize that long working hours are considered as occupational hazards. We take this as our dedication to work.” Regi Kusnadi, 24 years old, a creative young worker Similarly Regi Kusnadi, 24 years old, a creative young worker, shared that most of creative young workers tend to work long hours. “We do not even realize that long working hours are considered as occupational hazards. We take this as our dedication to work,” told Regi.Dini Rahmawati, a young unionist, has been active in disseminating information related to OSH to young workers. “I learnt that young workers could be so ignorant about issues related to OSH. That is why I tried to approach young workers in my circle and raise their awareness that when we talk about jobs, the main issues are not only about wages and benefits, but also working conditions and OSH,” she explained. A video blog or vlog on OSH can be effective to reach out to youth and young workers. Other way includes the appointment of young OSH ambassador – an influencer with a high number of young followers can be selected as he or she can better communicate these issues to his or her followers and other young people.” Indana, a young university student ‘You only live once’ slogan was also one of the constraints to approach youth and young workers to be interested in learning OSH related issues. Therefore Indana, a young university student, suggested some innovative ways to better promote OSH related issues to youth.“A video blog or vlog on OSH can be effective to reach out to youth and young workers. Other way includes the appointment of young OSH ambassador – an influencer with a high number of young followers can be selected as he or she can better communicate these issues to his or her followers and other young people,” she said. The OSHNopoly game is given to one of the young workers by DK3N The event was conducted by The ILO’s Youth4OSH programme aims to reduce workplace injuries, fatalities and occupational diseases through inculcating a preventive safety and health culture among young workers and young employers. The programme is supported by the US Council for International Business (USCIB).

Increase in heat stress predicted to bring productivity loss equivalent to 80 million jobs

30/06/2019 Comments Off

Afghanistan local construction worker perched from his work under the burning heat of the Kabul sun.© PJ Tavera Photography GENEVA (ILO News) – An increase in heat stress resulting from global warming is projected to lead to global productivity losses equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs in the year 2030, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Projections based on a global temperature rise of 1.5°C by the end of this century suggest that in 2030, 2.2 per cent of total working hours worldwide will be lost because of higher temperatures, a loss equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs. This is equivalent to global economic losses of US$2,400 billion. Moreover, the report cautions this is a conservative estimate because it assumes that the global mean temperature rise will not exceed 1.5°C. It also assumes that work in agriculture and construction – two of the sectors worst affected by heat stress – are carried out in the shade. The new ILO report, Working on a warmer planet: The impact of heat stress on labour productivity and decent work, draws on climate, physiological and employment data and presents estimates of the current and projected productivity losses at national, regional and global levels Heat stress refers to heat in excess of what the body can tolerate without suffering physiological impairment. It generally occurs at temperatures above 35°C, in high humidity. Excess heat during work is an occupational health risk; it restricts workers’ physical functions and capabilities, work capacity and thus, productivity. In extreme cases it can lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal. The sector expected to be worst affected, globally, is agriculture. 940 million people around the world work in the agricultural sector. It is projected to account for 60 per cent of global working hours lost due to heat stress by the year 2030. The construction sector will also be severely impacted with an estimated 19 per cent of global working hours lost by the same date. Other sectors especially at risk are environmental goods and services, refuse collection, emergency, repair work, transport, tourism, sports and some forms of industrial work. The impact will be unequally distributed around the world. The regions losing the most working hours are expected to be southern Asia and western Africa, where approximately 5 per cent of working hours are expected to be lost in 2030, corresponding to around 43 million and 9 million jobs, respectively. Moreover, it will be people in the poorest regions who will suffer the most significant economic losses. Lower-middle- and low-income countries are expected to suffer the worst, particularly as they have fewer resources to adapt effectively to increased heat. The economic losses of heat stress will therefore reinforce already existing economic disadvantage, in particular the higher rates of working poverty, informal and vulnerable employment, subsistence agriculture, and a lack of social protection. The impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change… We can expect to see more inequality between low and high income countries and worsening working conditions for the most vulnerable.” Catherine Saget, Chief of Unit in the ILO’s Research department Heat stress will affect millions of women who make up the majority of workers in subsistence agriculture, as well as men who dominate the construction industry. The social consequences of heat stress may include increasing migration, as workers leave rural areas to look for better prospects. The challenges posed by climate change are a key focus of the ILO’s new Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work and will shape its operations and research agenda. The report demonstrates that the consequences are far-reaching for the UN’s 2030 Agenda. It warns that, “The economic, social and health effects of heat stress would make it harder to tackle poverty and promote human development, and, consequently, also to attain most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” “The impact of heat stress on labour productivity is a serious consequence of climate change, which adds to other adverse impacts such as changing rain patterns, raising sea levels and loss of biodiversity,” said Catherine Saget, Chief of Unit in the ILO’s Research department and one of the main authors of the report. “In addition to the massive economic costs of heat stress, we can expect to see more inequality between low and high income countries and worsening working conditions for the most vulnerable, as well as displacement of people. To adapt to this new reality appropriate measures by governments, employers and workers, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable, are urgently needed.” The report calls for greater efforts to design, finance and implement national policies to address heat stress risks and protect workers. These include adequate infrastructure and improved early warning systems for heat events, and improved implementation of international labour standards such as in the area of occupational safety and health to help design policies to tackle heat-related hazards. Employers and workers are best placed to assess risks and take appropriate action at the workplace so that workers can cope with high temperatures and continue to do their jobs. Employers can provide drinking water, and training on recognizing and managing heat stress. Social dialogue can play a crucial role in reaching consensus on indoor and outdoor working methods, adapting working hours, dress codes and equipment, use of new technologies, shade and rest breaks.

ILO to launch new report on work-related heat stress

27/06/2019 Comments Off

GENEVA (ILO News) – A new report on heat stress resulting from global warming, which predicts significant productivity, job and economic losses, will be launched on Monday 1st July by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The new report, Working on a warmer planet: The impact of heat stress on labour productivity and decent work, draws […]

Fatal Wichita Fall Highlights Communication Tower Worksite Dangers

09/05/2014 Comments Off

These days there are fewer linemen and more communications tower technicians in Wichita. Both jobs can be very hazardous. On Nov. 23, 2013, 25-year-old Douglas Klein, a worker performing maintenance, fell about 50 feet to his death while descending from a communications tower at work site in Wichita, Kan. He was one of 13 workers who […]

Farm Workers Fired For Fleeing California Wildfire Get Jobs Back

10/05/2013 Comments Off

By ANNIE-ROSE STRASSER, ThinkProgress — Fifteen farm workers have won back their right to work after being fired last week for fleeing wildfire smoke. The workers, who pick strawberries for Crisalida Farms in Oxnard, California, were warned by their foreman that they’d lose their jobs if they left. But the raining ash and blowing smoke caused by the fast-burning […]

Page 5 of 9« First ‹ Previous 3 456 7 Next ›Last »

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

THIS SITE DOES NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA - ANY LINKS ARE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES