Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) has been a central issue for the ILO ever since its creation in 1919 and continues to be a fundamental requirement for achieving the objectives of the Decent Work Agenda. However, it is estimated that about 2.3 million workers die each year from work-related accidents and diseases.  The ILO has developed a number of OSH Conventions and Recommendations such as Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No.155), Occupational Health Services Convention (No.161). In 2003, the International Labour Conference reviewed the ILO standards and activities in the field of OSH and developed Global Strategy for OSH, which underlined the importance of creating preventative safety and health culture and the management systems approach which would support the full-functioning of the ILO instruments at the national level.

Following the guidance of the Global Strategy, Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No.187) and Recommendation (No.197) were adopted in 2006.  These new international standards aim at placing OSH high at national agendas and applying systems approach to OSH at the national level and promoting the application and ratification of other ILO Conventions on OSH. As of November 2011, 20countries have ratified the Convention No.187 and many more countries are in the process of ratification. Soonest application and ratification of the new Convention by all countries are essential steps forward for improving occupational safety and health globally.

The ILO has been promoting the strategic approach to OSH as guided by the Convention No.187. Key elements of this approach include development of national OSH policy, national OSH programmes and national OSH systems by the government in consultation with social partners.  The preparation and regular updating of national OSH profile (summary of national OSH situations) are important steps for a systematic review and reinforcement of national programmes and systems as well as for sharing experience nationally and internationally. Actions for strategic national approach to OSH would include expansion of training, information and advisory services and the reviewing and redesigning of legislation with a view to ensuring full coverage of legal protection and supporting the full functioning of the national OSH system. 

Most developing countries lack information on occupational diseases and other adverse health effects of hazardous work on workers.  This is due the weakness of occupational health related components of national OSH system including medical surveillance and environmental monitoring related hazardous workplaces and workers engaged as well as national schemes for compensation of occupational accidents and diseases.  There is an urgent need to reinforce national OSH systems based on the analysis of each country situation reviewing legislation, OSH service network, and financial human resources.  Actions in this area should be pursued as a part of national OSH strategies and programmes to be formulated with the participation of all stakeholders including employers’ and workers’ organizations, OSH professional associations and government institutions.