News

ILA organizes the ILA Health & Safety Award in cooperation with VISION ZERO, a prevention concept of ISSA Mining. We are pleased to announce together with ISSA Mining The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023.

We would like to point out that this Friday, the 28th April, The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated! The initiative started 20 years ago by the International Labour Organisation and has been very important ever since.

We should state especially on this day that occupational safety and health is not only a fundamental principle and right, but that it is a mission for the ILA.

A world without accidents, diseases or harm at work is possible

The ISSA’s Vision Zero helps to drive global efforts to promote a improve the safe and healthy working environment. Every worker has a right to return home safe and healthy. Occupational safety and health is a fundamental principle and right.

The fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment

The objective of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April 2023 is to mark the international milestone that the occupational safety and health Conventions No 155 and No 187 have been recognised by the International Labour Conference as fundamental Conventions. Now, all Member States of the ILO, regardless of their ratification status of these fundamental Conventions, have an obligation to respect, promote and realize the principles concerning the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment.

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) welcomes this development, as it puts prevention high on the international agenda. However, this is not enough. International Conventions need to be implemented, and therefore, the message must reach the workplace. Social Security institutions play a key role in implementing occupational safety and health prevention efforts at the workplace, as they are in close contact with their insured persons and support employers in their efforts to provide a healthy working environment.

Vision Zero supports the creating of safe and healthy workplaces

The overwhelming success of ISSA’s global strategy – Vision Zero – to improve safety, health and well-being at work, provides a wealth of knowledge, tools and communication approaches to help implement the Vision of safe and healthy workplaces. Vision Zero is a driving force to improve occupational safety and health directly at the workplace. It supports small and big businesses through its seven golden rules. It engages with organisations and companies worldwide to systematically help reduce occupational accidents and diseases by investing in a healthy and motivated workforce.

Seven Golden Rules

To promote a more systematic and integrated approach to prevention in the workplace, the Vision Zero strategy uses a core tool - that is easy to understand and easy to remember - to achieve success: The Seven Golden Rules:

1. Take leadership – demonstrate commitment
2. Identify hazards – control risks
3. Define targets – develop programmes
4. Ensure a safe and healthy system – be well-organized
5. Ensure safety and health in machines, equipment and workplaces
6. Improve qualifications – develop competence
7. Invest in people – motivate by participation

Vision Zero Toolbox for implementing the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment

To support employers and managers to continuously improve the safety, health, and wellbeing at workplaces, the ISSA has developed a guide for employers and managers based on the Seven Golden Rules. This guide is complemented by numerous guides addresses specific sectors of economic activities, such as agricutlure, construction, electricity or  mining, as well as Guide for implementing Vision Zero in small businesses.

Furthermore, the Proactive Leading Indicators to Measure and Manage SHW provides a benchmarking tool that allows companines – or different production sites of the same company – to compare and analyse their performance in safety, health and wellbeing. The latest additins to the toolbox include the new VISION ZERO Guide to Protect the Environment and our Future as well as the new VISION ZERO and Wellbeing at Work Guide who have all the objective to help create a healthy work environment. All documents can be downloaded free of charge at https://visionzero.global/guides

The Vision Zero strategy compliments the concise and practical knowledge delivered through the ISSA Centre for Excellence, and especially that offered by three sets of ISSA Guidelines: Workplace Health Promotion; Prevention of Occupational Risks; and Return to Work and Reintegration.

Further information about the ISSA’s Vision Zero strategy can be found at www.visionzero.global. The website provides background information, training materials and a form by means of which interested companies and organizations can pledge their support for and become actively engaged with Vision Zero.

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has voiced its support for this broad objective of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in the strongest of terms: a world without accidents, diseases or harm at work is possible!