The Global Initiative for Industrial Safety has published a manifesto it says can “take a significant step towards addressing emerging and long-standing safety risks across the world”.
It aims to harness input from industry, government, academia, regulators and other international organisations to meet its goals, with a particular emphasis on technology and supporting safety in developing countries.
Specifically the manifesto is made up of five principles: uphold the human right to safe working conditions; ensure that safety is central to technology condition; exploit new technology-enabled safety solutions; share, monitor and promote safety lessons; and support safety improvements in developing countries.
The manifesto acknowledges the impact of technology in modern manufacturing methods such as artificial intelligence, automation and the Internet of Things but warns that “while these innovations enhance workplace safety, they also present new health risks for workers”. It claims the manifesto serves as a “strategic blueprint” to “harness” such advanced technologies.
It also recognises the challenges faced by developing countries who are disproportionately affected by occupational accidents and also climate change. For example, the manifesto makes reference to the ILO’s report, A call for safer and healthier working environments which reveals that in 2019, Asia and the Pacific accounted for 63% of global work-related mortality.
Such countries are often more vulnerable to hazards as they lack robust safety standards, and generally have a low degree of safety awareness including education and training. Health and safety in the UK is often held up as world-leading; and in one action point, the manifesto calls on governments of developing countries to “seek alliances” with nations who demonstrate excellent safety policies.
IOSH and BSI contributed input to the manifesto.
Its key collaborators include United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, Llloyd’s Register Foundation, the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit and the Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP). “It is the perfect time for the Global Initiative for Industrial Safety to launch the manifesto and start a global movement to address emerging safety issues and leverage technology to find solutions,” Carlos Lopez, Head of Unit at CIIP said in a press release accompanying the launch.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MANIFESTO
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