This story was written by the ILO Newsroom For official ILO statements and speeches, please visit our “Statements and Speeches” section.

XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work opens in Seoul: ILO report highlights need for safer workplaces

The International Labour Office has released a new report “Beyond deaths and injuries: The ILO’s role in promoting safe and healthy jobs”, at the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. The Congress, which takes place through 2 July, is the largest global event on occupational safety and health, gathering some 4,000 representatives from more than 100 countries.

News | 29 June 2008

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (ILO News) –The International Labour Office (ILO) has released a new report “Beyond deaths and injuries: The ILO’s role in promoting safe and healthy jobs”, at the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. The Congress, which takes place through 2 July, is the largest global event on occupational safety and health (OSH), gathering more than 4,000 representatives from more than 100 countries.

The ILO report draws from the latest available statistics and reports an increase in the estimated number of non-fatal occupational accidents and fatal accidents—but a slight decrease in the overall number of deaths due to work related diseases. Taken together, the report found that the total number of deaths due to work related accidents and diseases declined slightly between 2001-2003, from 2.38 million to 2.31 million.

According to the report, efforts to tackle OSH issues are often dispersed and fragmented and greater efforts are needed to adapt to the rapidly changing world of work. In particular, the report highlights the challenge in countries experiencing rapid industrialization or those with limited resources for maintaining effective national OSH systems, including proper enforcement of legislation.

“We must do what we can, enforce or enact the laws we need and take the actions we must to make our workplaces safe and decent. It’s our common responsibility.” said Mr. Assane Diop, Executive Director of the ILO Social Protection Sector.

He further called for “a preventative safety and health culture” and urged countries to ratify and apply the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention No.187 adopted by the ILO member States at its International Labour Conference in 2006.

The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is co-organized by the ILO and the International Social Security Association (ISSA), and hosted by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). The Congress will address the current state of safety in the world of work and provide a platform for the development of knowledge, strategic and practical ideas.

The World Congress follows a High-Level Safety and Health Summit involving 50 decision-makers from around the world, which adopted a Declaration on Safety and Health at Work. The full text of the Declaration and the list of signatories will be found at /global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Speeches/lang--en/docName--WCMS_095910/index.htm

Media queries and requests for interviews with ILO and ISSA representatives and occupational safety specialists can be directed to:

Ms. Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman, ILO Department of Communication and Public Information. E-mail: mehra@ilo.org - Mobile in Seoul: +8210/68.84.04.26.

Mr. Alexander Belopopsky, ISSA Promotion Unit: E-mail: belopopsky@ilo.org – Mobile in Seoul: +8210/68.84.04.90.

The triennial Congress on Safety and Health at Work is jointly organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA). The XVIII World Congress is hosted by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA).