World Day for Safety and Health at Work

28 April 2008:  A special national seminar to observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work was held at the national Press Club VIP Lounge in Dhaka today.  The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of safe, healthy and decent work.  This year’s theme is “Managing risks in the work environment”, and it is an area of public health that WHO is giving increasing attention to through its support to the member states.  The International Labour Organisation estimates that each year in Bangladesh 11,700 workers suffer fatal accidents, and a further 24,500 die from work-related diseases. It also estimates that a further 8 million workers suffer injuries at work – many of which result in permanent disability.

During the World Health Assembly held in May 2007 the member states endorsed the “Global plan of action on workers’ health 2008–2017”.  This plan identifies 5 main objectives and outlines the main areas for action.  The first objective relates to the development of policy instruments on workers’ health.  WHO has been supporting the development of a national policy on occupational health and safety (OHS) and a framework document was critically reviewed in a national workshop on occupational health and safety jointly organised by the Directorate General Health Services and WHO in October 2007.

The second objective of the Global plan of action relates to the protection and promotion of health in the workplace.  There is a need to undertake risk assessments in various industries in Bangladesh so that effective guidelines can be developed to ensure the health and safety of the workforce.  This requires capacity building among a professional cadre which is being achieved through the efforts of post-graduate teaching and research institutions such as the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) that offer an OHS specialisation in their Masters of Public Health programme.

Objective three concerns occupational health services.  Currently there is an absence of specialist practitioners in occupational health and there is a need to develop the capacity of primary health care practitioners to promote workers’ health and also provide treatment of workers’ health problems.  Such a service would bring benefits to employers and workers through reducing lost productivity and earnings.

The fourth objective deals with collecting evidence for action and practice.  WHO has been working closely with DGHS and NIPSOM to develop a solid evidence base to shape and guide the formation of OHS policy and action plans.  In 2006 the first national assessment of the occupational health and safety situation in Bangladesh was published, and in 2007 WHO supported NIPSOM to investigate health problems and risks in the garment workers industry, and also in the cottage industry manufacturing lead battery factories.

Objective five is focused on incorporating workers’ health in sectors additional to the health sector.  Existing national policies make reference to occupational health and safety including the Poverty Reduction Strategy 2006, the National Labour Policy 1980, and the Ministry of Health’s strategic investment plan.  However, these individual policy positions would be further strengthened through having a national policy on occupational health and safety and a coordinating national institute for OHS.

Good progress has been made to establish the foundations of an OHS system and culture in Bangladesh.  WHO will provide support to collect baseline data and undertake further OHS-related research, build OHS human resource capacity, and contribute to the development of policy and strategies that ensure healthy and safe workplaces.