National Occupational Safety and Health Frameworks
Realizing the fundamental principle and right at work of a safe and healthy working environment requires the development and implementation of a comprehensive, conducive and resilient national framework on occupational safety and health (OSH), as outlined in the fundamental conventions Nos 155 and 187.
Such a framework for continuous improvement should comprise the following interdependent components.
Such a framework for continuous improvement should comprise the following interdependent components.
- A national OSH policy, adopted by the government in consultation with the relevant organizations of workers and employers, which states the commitment to the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases; the main principles guiding national action on OSH; the spheres of action on OSH; and the functions and responsibilities of the main stakeholders.
- A national OSH system, which provides the infrastructure for implementing national policy and programmes on OSH including OSH laws and legislation and compliance mechanism; a national authority and a national tripartite advisory body on OSH; arrangements to promote, at the workplace level, cooperation between management, workers and their representatives; training, information and advisory services; occupational health services; research on OSH; collection and analysis of data on occupational injuries and diseases; collaboration with insurance or social security schemes covering occupational injuries and diseases; and support mechanisms for a progressive improvement of OSH conditions in MSMEs and in the informal economy.
- A strategic and time-bound national OSH programme, endorsed by the highest national authority and aimed at continuously improving OSH performance, which includes objectives, targets and indicators of progress and is formulated and reviewed on the basis of analysis of the national situation regarding OSH. To this end, countries are encouraged to prepare a national OSH profile, a diagnostic document, which summarizes the existing situation on OSH and the progress made towards achieving a safe and healthy working environment.