Everything about World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020

Author: Priyanka Saxena on Apr 27,2020

“Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives”

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020, which is celebrated on April 28, every year. This year it will focus on keeping a check on the infectious diseases that are faced at the workplace. This will move around the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular given the current situation the society, employers, working-class, and the world is facing at large. 

Keeping in mind the growing concern over the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO has dedicated the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 to raising awareness on inculcating the habit of safe & healthy practices at the workplace. It has also mentioned the crucial role of occupational safety and health (OSH) services at the workplace. In addition to that, the future preparedness to deal with COVID-19 and such infectious diseases at the workplace. The move will focus on including these preparedness plans related to infectious diseases in the OSH management systems at the International level. 

The panic over the pandemic is escalating every day. COVID-19 has brought about a situation of great concern around the world. Some countries are bearing the brunt of late lockdown with a huge percentage of the population affected by the pandemic, and some are facing the challenge of sustaining through an almost controlled situation. Therefore, this year the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 celebration will keep its focus on ways to combat infectious diseases at the workplace. 

 When, Why, and how the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 Celebrated?

 When - 

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated on the 28th of April every world throughout the world.

 Why - 

To propagate the idea of preventing the occurrence of diseases & accidents that are caused in the workplace around the world. 

Every year on the 28th of April, ILO (International Labor Organization) celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work to work on different measures to prevent suffering at the workplace & for honoring the victims of occupational sufferings.

 How - 

Around the world, awareness and mobilization campaigns are organized on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020. It was in 2003, that the International Labor Organization day came up with the idea and it was when the world began to observe this day. On this day, with the help of different organizations & socially active bodies - workers, employers & laborers are made aware of the different strategies to remain safe & healthy at the workplace. 

The awareness campaign, “Prevention of occupational accidents and diseases”, is one of such initiatives that is based on a preventive measure to help millions of workers & employers remain safe & healthy at the workplace. This campaign is based on attracting the attention of higher authorities & people from across the globe towards these important issues. It tells how taking care of strategies & roadmaps to inculcate safety & healthy habits in the workplace can reduce the death toll caused due to this menace. 

 What kind of Risks is Emerging at Workplace?

With new technological developments taking place every day, this risk is escalating leaps & bounds. The social & organizational changes that demand these technological changes escalate this risk to a way higher level. 

The new technologies in the picture like biotechnology & nanotechnology, make workers & employees more prone to the risk of suffering at the workplace. In addition to that the increasing workload, migration for work conditions & various other big and small changes have taken place over the years. These changes sometimes lead to workers going through various mental & physical & psychological ailments. 

How to Celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020  while working from home?

So, because of whatever situation, COVID-19 is prevailing around, we are forced to work from home. However, that reduces this ever-emerging risk of workplace suffering, but we have to return back to the usual at a point in time. Given that we must not stop this crusade to fight this menace. Indeed, it is going to be much more difficult & riskier when we return back home and there would be a need for another set of guidelines to remain healthy & safe. You have a number of ways to get these preparations done and help the world & ILO in its crusade to fight this menace of occupational sufferings. Here are a few ways you can be a part of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 while working from home:

1. Join the online campaign #Prevention of occupational accidents and diseases.

2. Make a list of things you are going to be particular about while getting back to the normal work schedule.

3. Making your friends & family aware of this awareness campaign and about its significance.

4. Joining various social media groups (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) that are actively promoting this idea of workplace safety.

5. Creating your own rule book for maintaining the needed hygiene while working from home.

6. Encourage your employees & colleagues to prepare their list of top Health and Fitness Tips for Quieter Quarantine to boost their immunity. So that, when they are back with their usual workplace schedule, the robust immune system will help in keeping the coronavirus at bay.

7. Creating posts on social media on what role every single person at the workplace - workers, employers & the Governments - can play in handling the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace.

We as a society must come together to keep our people safe while they are building the base of society and producing something good. We must join the campaign “World Day for Safety and Health at Work”, which is organized by ILO, UN, and other higher bodies. We are so much technically connected that nothing can ever stop us from working for the right cause. While you are at home, talk about workplace health, safety measures online, joining campaigns across the globe & create your own hygiene rulebook. Stay Home, Stay healthy!!