World Day for Safety and Health at Work — ILO targets OSH data

Improving the capacity to collect and use occupational safety and health (OSH) data is the focus of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) campaign for the 2017 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is on 28 April.

The adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a global plan of action with specific targets for ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all. OSH data has become invaluable for countries in reporting on the agenda’s 17 sustainable development goals and their targets.

Sustainable Development Goal 8, in particular, provides for the promotion of ‘inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’ and its Target 8.8 focuses on the ‘protection of labour rights and promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment’. For Target 8.8, countries are asked to report on the following indicator: ‘Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status’.

Multiple ILO OSH conventions also require ratifying member states to establish mechanisms to collect and utilise reliable OSH data for prevention purposes. These ILO instruments recognise that the collection and utilisation of reliable OSH data is indispensable for the detection of new hazards and emerging risks, the identification of hazardous sectors and the development of preventative measures, as well as the implementation of policies, systems and programs at international, national and enterprise levels. OSH data provides the basis for setting priorities and measuring progress.

To support member states in the improvement of their capacity to collect and utilise reliable OSH data, the ILO produced a toolbox with relevant resources and a set of fact sheets.

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