The World of Work in a Time of COVID-19 · including adequate first-aid arrangements. Ensure that workers and their representatives are consulted, informed, and trained on OSH 5 World

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work 28 April 2020

In the face of a pandemic: Ensuring Safety and Health at Work

The World of Workin a Time of COVID-19An ILO Caribbean High Level Virtual Roundtable

Ariel PinoSocial Protection and OSH SpecialistILO Office and DWT for the [email protected]

#ResilientWithDecentWork

Ilo.org/caribbean

The Covid-19 pandemic - Impact on the world of work 2


- Increased unemployment and underemployment

- Reduced access to social protection

- Particularly negative effects on specific groups more vulnerable to adverse labour market outcomes

- Worsened working conditions and OSH

ILO key pillars in responding to the Covid-19 crisis

Stimulating the economy and employment, through active fiscal policy, accommodative monetary policy, lending and financial support to specific sectors, including the health sector.

Supporting enterprises, jobs and incomes, by extending social protection for all, implementing employment retention measures, providing financial/tax and other relief for enterprises.

Relying on social dialogue for solutions, by strengthening the capacity and resilience of employers’ and workers’ organizations, strengthening the capacity of governments, strengthen social dialogue, collective bargaining and labour relations institutions and processes.

Protecting workers in the workplace, by strengthening OSH measures, adapting work arrangements (e.g. teleworking), preventing discrimination and exclusion, providing health access for all, expand access to paid leave.

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OSH rights and responsibilities according to ILO standards

Employers’ roles and responsibilities

Ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes under their control are safe and without risk to health.

Ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the chemical, physical and biological substances and agents under their control are without risk to health when the appropriate measures of protection are taken.

Provide, where necessary, adequate protective clothing and protective equipment (at no cost to workers)

Provide, where necessary, for measures to deal with emergencies and accidents, including adequate first-aid arrangements.

Ensure that workers and their representatives are consulted, informed, and trained on OSH

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Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164)

Workers’ rights and responsibilities

Right to remove themselves from a work situation which they have reasonable justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health, without undue consequences

Right to receive adequate information and training on OSH

Right to enquire into (and to be consulted on) all aspects of OSH associated with their work

Duty to co-operate with the employer in the field of OSH (e.g. comply with OSH instructions and procedures; use PPE correctly; report to supervisor hazardous situation; etc.)

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Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164)

Protecting workers from the risk of contagion during an outbreak

Policy & Workplaces

OSH in times of COVID-19 - POLICY

Guidance from Governments to employers and employees Preparedness of Labour/OSH Departments to provide advice

and support and address conciliation and arbitration Address legal gaps, sick leave, sickness benefits, occupational

diseases, telework Promotion of social dialogue to improve working conditions Immediate focus on return to workplaces after lockdown

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Support in development or update of plans for the prevention, containment, mitigation and recovery

Support in the risk assessment and management process (i.e. identification of infectious and non-infectious hazards and assessment of associated risks; adoption of preventive and control measures; monitoring and review)

OSH in times of COVID-19 - WORKPLACES

Identification of workers / occupations / sectors at increased risk of contagion – frontline workers, essential services, informal sector, tourism sector, BPOs

Implementation of control and prevention measures based on risk assessment – for workers and the public

Dissemination of information and training on preventive and protective measures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases

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Probability to be exposed to the risk of contagion and the possibility that workers may encounter infectious persons or may be exposed to contaminated environments or materials

Severity of the resulting health outcomes, taking into account individual affecting factors as well as the measures available to control the impact of the infection

Protecting workers and public when resuming activities

Key issues to resume activity

Consider a phased approach

Review and implement organizational measures

Hygiene and disinfection

Personal protection

Consider needs of particular groups

Address psychosocial factors

Social dialogue - joint OSH Committees

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Concluding remarks

The #COVID19 pandemic is causing major mental health and violence and harassment concerns, for those on the frontline, working from home, or who have lost their jobs

The health and safety of our communities and the resilience of our businesses depends on how we protect our workers from #COVID19

More than ever, OSH is fundamental – an essential investment to protect workers’ health and ensure business continuity

Frontline workers are the heroes of the global COVID-19 pandemic response; we must ensure their safety and health at work … and beyond

Strong safety and health measures for workers and the public are the first requirement when considering the return to workplaces

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On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the ILO express solidarity and sends heartfelt thanks to frontline workers in the #COVID19 pandemic and those working from home to keep economies moving while protecting others and commemorates those who have lost their lives.

www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus

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Thank you

www.ilo.org/safeday

Documents

The World of Work in a Time of COVID-19 · including adequate first-aid arrangements. Ensure that workers and their representatives are consulted, informed, and trained on OSH 5 World