Most workers living in poverty lack basic health and welfare services and work in an unhealthy and unsafe working environment. For many, their home and workplace are one and the same place. Vulnerability to disease and poor health thus result from a combination of poor living and working conditions. Most workers in the informal economy work in precarious and unsafe conditions, without sanitary facilities, potable water or proper waste disposal. Every year, more than 2 million people die of work-related accidents and diseases. In many developing countries, death rates among workers are five to six times those in industrialized countries. More than 160 million workers fall ill each year as a result of workplace hazards. The poorest and least protected – often women, children and migrants – are among the most affected.
According to surveys carried out by the ILO in Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal and the United Republic of Tanzania, while hazards varied according to occupation, some of the most prevalent problems in micro and small informal enterprises were poor lighting, lack of ventilation, excessive heat, poor housekeeping, inadequate work space and working tools, lack of protective equipment, exposure to hazardous chemicals and dusts and long hours of work. The most prevalent health impairments were musculoskeletal disorders and lower back pain, allergic reactions and other respiratory disorders, physical strain, fatigue and stress. Injuries with tools were also frequent.
High production demands, poor work organization and inadequate tools and equipment used for lifting and transporting materials are amongst the most common causes of health problems. This, combined with repetitive movements, carrying of heavy loads and awkward postures, adds up to a physical workload which may reach unacceptable levels, causing unnecessary strain and fatigue, and contributing to injuries. Hazardous working conditions not only harm workers’ health but also diminish productivity and therefore income. Yet many of these risks can be reduced by low-cost investments that also yield improved productivity.
The ILO is working with governments and the social partners to create worldwide awareness of the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases and to stimulate and support practical action. Documenting and publicizing the human suffering and the cost to society, as well as the potential benefits of protection, such as enhanced productivity, quality and cost savings, is the starting point. Such research leads to recognition of the importance of prevention as an efficient and cost-effective way of providing safety and health protection to all workers. The priorities are work in especially hazardous sectors, such as agriculture, mining and construction and the informal economy as a whole, and protection of those who are exposed to abuse and exploitation at work, such as women, children and migrants.
The ILO draws on its extensive experience in the development of standards, codes of practice and technical guides to help countries set objectives and targets for the protection of workers in hazardous conditions, giving particular attention to strengthening the advisory and enforcement capacity of labour inspectorates. Extending the scope of existing legislation and other protective measures to the large majority of workers whose conditions are most in need of improvement is essential, and is especially effective when coupled with specific programmes to promote the capacity of enterprises and workers to act to reduce and eliminate hazards.
A basic element of such an approach is developing practical safety and health training programmes and tools for small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening the effectiveness, efficiency and coverage of labour inspection systems. Important aspects of this work are the development and use of guidelines for the extension of labour protection to rural and urban informal economy workers and partnerships with community organizations and others to develop and implement approaches for reaching out to hardto1reach groups of workers.
Work by the ILO to address hazards in the ship-breaking industry illustrates the way in which international action linked to work on the ground with communities in developing countries can address the grave hazards faced by workers and their communities. Approximately 1,500 large ships and 2,500 smaller ones are broken down each year in dangerous and backbreaking working conditions. Most of the work is done by poorly paid contract labourers who tear ships apart with gas torches and their bare hands on beaches, mainly in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Safety goggles and other protective equipment are rare. Workers are routinely exposed to extreme heat, flammable gases and dangerous chemicals. Most ships contain asbestos, lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organic pollutants, dioxin and sulphuric fumes. In addition, the majority of sites in developing countries have no waste management systems or other facilities to prevent pollution. As a result, pollutants find their way into both the air and the groundwater, causing severe long-term health and environmental damage. The ILO has initiated programmes in South Asia which include working with governments to improve occupational safety and health regulations and inspection services, training workers and employers on good workplace health and safety practices, and upgrading technical facilities. A UNDP-funded project is being launched in Bangladesh as a first step towards this goal. In addition, the ILO is working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the secretariat of the Basel Convention, the World Bank and others to address the international dimensions of the occupational and environmental challenges posed by ship-breaking.
To learn more about this author, visit International Labour Organization's Website.
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