Social, economic dev linked to work safety
Sunday, 23 November 2008
FE Report
Social and economic progress can not be sustainable unless development is pursued with full attention to safety at work.
This was unanimously agreed by hundreds of policy makers, planners, senior company executives and professionals from several countries of the world who met at a conference on work safety held in Beijing in the middle of last week.
They held the view that work safety "assumes a special significance in the face of daunting industrialization and the growth of competitiveness across the globe. On an average, about 4.0 per cent GDP losses are occurring around the globe due to accidents, illnesses, work time loss and compensations due to occupational hazards and safety violations."
Inaugurated by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejian, the two-day meeting (held on last Tuesday and Wednesday) of the 4th International Forum on Work Safety and jointly hosted by the Chinese State Administration of Work Safety and ILO, it was also attended by the US Secretary of Labour Elaine L Chao, Finnish Minister of Social Affairs Lisa Hyssala and ILO Director General Juan Somavia, a participant from Bangladesh told the FE. About 400 participants from 40 countries attended the conference.
Addressing the conference, the Chinese Vice Minister said that workplace safety must come, ahead of GDP growth. He said, "we can not attain satisfactory development at the cost of so many lives lost or maimed in the process of development. Referring to a large number of casualties taking place in Chinese coal mines, he informed the conference that about six thousand coal mines out of the sixteen thousand in China would be closed down in the next two years to ensure workplace safety. He added that most of these mines use outdated technology, have poor management and are not aware of the proper safety procedures.
In her presentation, the US Secretary of Labour Elaine Chow said occupational safety must be given top priority in a bid to build a harmonious society. She said scientific innovations were imperative to ensure safety at workplaces. She urged for governments and enterprises to work together in this regard.
The Finish Minister for Social Affairs said there should be a change in our working style. She informed the participants in the seminar that more and more people "are developing ergonomics problems from their workplaces."
Underlying the importance of ensuring workplace safety, the ILO Director General Juan Somavia urged for people-centered development in which respect for people and their lives must be given the priority. He said sustainable development has the convergence of productivity and people's well being.
It may be mentioned that only 10 to 15 per cent of the total global workforce work are covered by standardized occupational safety and health services.
According to statistics, eighty per cent of accidents at workplaces are triggered by unsafe behaviour by the workers. However, in most cases the employers fail to provide adequate safety measures or build awareness on safety. Major areas of workplace casualties include mining, construction and small scale industries.
Social and economic progress can not be sustainable unless development is pursued with full attention to safety at work.
This was unanimously agreed by hundreds of policy makers, planners, senior company executives and professionals from several countries of the world who met at a conference on work safety held in Beijing in the middle of last week.
They held the view that work safety "assumes a special significance in the face of daunting industrialization and the growth of competitiveness across the globe. On an average, about 4.0 per cent GDP losses are occurring around the globe due to accidents, illnesses, work time loss and compensations due to occupational hazards and safety violations."
Inaugurated by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejian, the two-day meeting (held on last Tuesday and Wednesday) of the 4th International Forum on Work Safety and jointly hosted by the Chinese State Administration of Work Safety and ILO, it was also attended by the US Secretary of Labour Elaine L Chao, Finnish Minister of Social Affairs Lisa Hyssala and ILO Director General Juan Somavia, a participant from Bangladesh told the FE. About 400 participants from 40 countries attended the conference.
Addressing the conference, the Chinese Vice Minister said that workplace safety must come, ahead of GDP growth. He said, "we can not attain satisfactory development at the cost of so many lives lost or maimed in the process of development. Referring to a large number of casualties taking place in Chinese coal mines, he informed the conference that about six thousand coal mines out of the sixteen thousand in China would be closed down in the next two years to ensure workplace safety. He added that most of these mines use outdated technology, have poor management and are not aware of the proper safety procedures.
In her presentation, the US Secretary of Labour Elaine Chow said occupational safety must be given top priority in a bid to build a harmonious society. She said scientific innovations were imperative to ensure safety at workplaces. She urged for governments and enterprises to work together in this regard.
The Finish Minister for Social Affairs said there should be a change in our working style. She informed the participants in the seminar that more and more people "are developing ergonomics problems from their workplaces."
Underlying the importance of ensuring workplace safety, the ILO Director General Juan Somavia urged for people-centered development in which respect for people and their lives must be given the priority. He said sustainable development has the convergence of productivity and people's well being.
It may be mentioned that only 10 to 15 per cent of the total global workforce work are covered by standardized occupational safety and health services.
According to statistics, eighty per cent of accidents at workplaces are triggered by unsafe behaviour by the workers. However, in most cases the employers fail to provide adequate safety measures or build awareness on safety. Major areas of workplace casualties include mining, construction and small scale industries.