Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Figure 18.1
Good scaffold – Leaning tower, Pisa, Italy.
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18
International aspects 
of health and safety

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International aspects of health and safety
403
In the course of the 20th century, industrialized 
countries saw a clear decrease in serious injuries, not 
least because of real advances in making the workplace 
healthier and safer. The challenge is to extend the 
benefi ts of this experience to the whole working world. 
However, 1984 saw the worst chemical disaster ever 
when 2500 people were killed and over 200 000 injured 
in the space of a few hours at Bhopal. Not only were the 
workers affected but their families, their neighbours and 
whole communities. Twenty years later many people are 
still affected by the disaster and are dying as a result. The 
rusting remains of a once magnifi cent plant remain as a 
reminder of the disaster.
Experience has shown that a strong safety culture is 
benefi cial for workers, employers and governments alike. 
Various prevention techniques have proved themselves 
effective, both in avoiding workplace accidents and 
illnesses and improving business performance. Today’s 
high standards in some countries are a direct result of 
long-term policies encouraging tripartite social dialogue, 
collective bargaining between trade unions and employ-
ers, and effective health and safety legislation backed 
by potent labour inspection. The ILO believe that Safety 
Management Systems like ILO-OSH 2001 provide a 
powerful tool for developing a sustainable safety and 
health culture at the enterprise level and mechanisms for 
the continual improvement of the working environment.
Event Average 
 
Annually
 daily
Work-related death 
5000 
2 000 000
Work-related deaths to children 
60 
22 000
Work-related accidents 
740 000 
270 000 000
Work-related disease 
438 000 
160 000 000
Hazardous substance deaths 
1205 
440 000
Asbestos related deaths 
274 
100 000