World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023

Book excerpt: The World Day for Safety and Health at Work takes place annually on the 28th of April to globally promote the prevention of accidents and diseases at work. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) began to observe this day in 2003 to promote a safe and healthy work environment as a fundamental principle and right at work through collaboration and encouraging open social dialogue. We have learned from past and ongoing crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic that workplaces can be of vital importance in the prevention and control of outbreaks. During this unprecedented period, it was demonstrated that effective participation and communication between governments, employers, and workers had an essential role in transforming occupational health and safety systems; through implementing effective health and safety measures in the workplace to contain the spread of disease, systems were built that not only safeguarded the health and safety of workers but protected and upheld the health of society at large. In addition, these measures allowed important services to continue in confidence, with health and safety being at the forefront.