Workplace Health & Safety
The ILO has adopted more than 40 standards specifically dealing with occupational safety and health, as well as over 40 Codes of Practice. Nearly half of ILO instruments deal directly or indirectly with occupational safety and health issues.
Fundamental conventions on Occupational Safety and Health
C155 – Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155)
C187 – Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)
Other relevant convention and protocol
C161 – Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161)
P155 – Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981Occupational safety and health are identified as the discipline dealing with the prevention of work-related injuries and diseases as well as the protection and promotion of the health of workers. It aims at the improvement of working conditions and environment.
Members of many different professions (e.g. engineers, physicians, hygienists, nurses) contribute to “occupational safety, occupational health, occupational hygiene and improvement of the working environment”.
Modern labour markets are a tough place for young jobseekers. Many feel pressure to accept the first job they get, often without considering if the working conditions put their health and safety at risk.
This is a problem, since young workers suffer from injury and illness on the job at far higher rates than their adult counterparts.
The United Nations defines “youth” as anyone between the ages of 15 and 24. By this definition, there are 541 million young workers in the world today, accounting for over 15% of the global labour force.
They include students who work in their spare time, apprentices, interns, young people who have finished or dropped out of compulsory education, young workers in family businesses, young employers and self-employed workers.