ILO expert David Gold on factory fires & related issues
31 Mar '06
6 min read
ILO Online: What is the role of government and the social partners?
David Gold: Government should provide for an appropriate labour inspectorate with ample funding, a sufficient number of labour inspectors and a well-organized inspection strategy. To assist inspectorates, the ILO's SafeWork programme developed a guide called “Ten steps for Strengthening Labour Inspection“, which provides policy makers and labour inspectors with guidance and a comprehensive overview of labour inspection practice. Workers and employers play an equally important role. The ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management Systems encourage the integration of OSH with other management systems and state that OSH should be an integral part of business management. While integration is desirable, flexible arrangements are required depending on the size and type of operation. It is also important, that every worker receives adequate training in OSH, particularly prevention and emergency planning.
ILO Online: How can the ILO help preventing industrial fires?
David Gold: The ILO Constitution calls for “adequate protection for the life and health of workers in all occupations”. The ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) states, that employers shall be required to provide, where necessary, for measures to deal with emergencies and accidents, including adequate first-aid arrangements. The 2001 ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management Systems called for establishing and maintaining emergency prevention, preparedness and response arrangements. These arrangements should identify the potential for accidents and emergency situations, and address the prevention of OSH risks associated with them. The arrangements should be made according to the size and nature of activity of the organization. It states that these arrangements should be established in cooperation with external emergency services and other bodies, where applicable. The ILO has also been actively supporting initiatives in some countries for developing national policies and programmes, while in others, it has been working closely with governments to establish national tripartite advisory bodies for OSH.
marketing@alchempro.com
