II – INTRODUCTION TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

Why is OSH relevant to business?

Research has shown that safety and well-being at the workplace equals good business and profitability. Employers have primary responsibility for the occupational safety and health of workers. They are responsible for conducting risk assessments and organizing business operations with safety as the first priority. Governments set the frameworks to enable employers to provide flexible solutions to manage workplace safety. OSH performance is key to reputation management, particularly where businesses depend on the relationship with global consumers.

In June 2022, the International Labor Conference adopted a resolution and included a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work, amended the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work accordingly and recognized Convention 155 and Convention 187 as fundamental ILO conventions.