ILO activities on the Protection of Workers against exposure to UV radiation

Protection of workers against sickness, disease and injury arising out of employment is one of the tasks assigned to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The protection of workers against risks from exposure to UV falls naturally within the scope of the work of the ILO.  The ILO uses various means of action to give governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations the necessary help in drawing up and implementing programmes for the improvement of working conditions and the safety and health of workers.    Hazards due to UV radiation and risks from occupational exposures to UV radiation have been a concern to the ILO over the years.  A number of the international labour codes formulated by the ILO have provisions on worker’s protection against UV radiation. They include Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention (No. 184) and Recommendation (No. 192), and the List of Occupational Diseases Recommendation (No. 194). The ILO codes of practice on Safety and Health in Agricultural (2010), on Safety and Health in Agriculture Work (1965), on Safety and Health in Shipbreaking (2004) and on Ambient Factors in the Workplace (2001) have sections devoted to UV protection. The ILO codes of practice represent tripartite consensus on good practice on safety and health at work. The ILO also produces guidance documents in collaboration with the ICNIRP and the WHO on workplace UV protection. These publications provide information with respect to the occupational hazards of exposure to UV. They include guidance on workplace safety and health measures and procedures that will lead to higher standards of safety for all personnel engaged in the operation which gives rise to occupational exposure to UV. These ILO instruments have been prepared in particular for the use of competent authorities, employers and workers, and in general all persons in charge of occupational safety and health.