INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
population movements , and the consequent pressures on the global environment , can also affect safety and health in the world of work . It is no coincidence that the protection of workers against sickness , disease and injury related to the working environment , as embodied in the Preamble to the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ), has been a central issue for the Organisation since its creation in 1919 , and continues to be so today .
OSH is a key element in achieving sustained decent working conditions and strong preventive safety cultures . Close to 80 % of all ILO standards and instruments are either wholly or partly concerned with issues related to OSH . A large number of areas of ILO activity include an OSH or OSH-related component , among them employment , child labour , the informal economy , gender mainstreaming , labour statistics , labour inspection , maritime safety , HIV / AIDS and the world of work , and international migration . This breadth of penetration gives a clear indication of the continued importance of OSH as a core element of ILO activity and of the Decent Work Agenda in particular .
In November 2000 , the Governing Body of the ILO decided to apply , on an experimental basis , an integrated approach to ILO standards-related activities to increase their coherence , relevance , impact and currency . OSH was selected as the first area to benefit from this approach , and at its 91 st Session ( 2003 ), the International Labour Conference ( ILC ) held a general discussion to this end ( ILO , 2003a ). The ILC adopted conclusions defining the main elements of a global strategy to bring about measurable improvements in safety and health in the world of work and recommending the development of a new instrument aimed at establishing a promotional framework for occupational safety and health .
Financial Cost of Worksite Injuries ( ZONITH )
The most common accidents at work are injuries such as slips , trips , strains and fractures . According to Eurostat data , these make up to 75 % of all accidents . Responsibility for many cases like these is on both the employer and the person who was to safeguard the working environment . The common nature of these accidents makes it worthwhile to think ahead about the consequences .
Financial costs of workplace injuries
The most direct result of workplace injuries for a company is financial . According to statistics , the average direct cost of a company per accident ranges from USD1,000 to USD20,000 . This includes potential hospital bills of the affected employee , therapies , medication , and compensation — it all adds up and can put a severe strain on a company ’ s budget .
Indirect costs of workplace injuries
Another type of cost for a company after an accident is indirect . These can be as much as four to ten times higher than the direct / financial costs . The indirect costs include , but are not limited to : – Decrease of productivity – Loss of morale among staff – Working staff shortage – Material damage – Equipment damage – Building or vehicle damage – Potential overtime costs – Additional training – Additional supervision – Loss of the company ’ s reputation It is important to keep in mind that some of the indirect costs of workplace accidents can be lowered depending on the company ’ s attitude towards the accident , especially problems with morale and productivity which depend to a high degree on the employee ’ s perception of their employer ’ s responsibility .
If the workplace was properly prepared and safeguarded , and an accident was the result of a mistake , then these costs would be relatively low . On the other hand , when employees think that the employer ’ s negligence led to the accident , the costs would be much higher .
How to prevent workplace injuries to minimise potential costs
These days , in addition to standard safety measures such as having a safety plan , conducting proper staff training , minimising risks
76 VOL 96 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023