Ss22 Innovations in Occupational Health Policy and Practice: Promoting the Fundamental Right to a Safe and Healthy Working Environment

Abstract The changing social, economic, technological and environmental landscape impacts the availability and quality of work and employment in organizations across all sectors and in all regions of the world. In 2022, the principle of a safe and healthy working environment was added to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The landmark decision means that all ILO Member States commit to respect and promote the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment, whether or not they have ratified the relevant Conventions (e.g. C155, C187, C190) (ILO, 2022). This initiative is expected to significantly help improve the implementation of occupational health policy and practice across the world, both in developed and developing countries, which will be examined and discussed in this session. The five presentations in this session will discuss the implications of the ILO’s landmark decision on countries around the world as well as on policies relating to health of women and vulnerable workers. The presentations provide examples of good practice to promote occupational health policy and practice, lessons from other policy arenas such as environmental law, and insight into current and future national policy initiatives. There are clear opportunities for policy makers to align both regulatory and other policy approaches on occupational health, safety and wellbeing, with regulatory mechanisms to protect and promote human rights, as well as standards to promote responsible business practices, which can not only help in optimization of resource use, but also promote OSH higher up the policy agenda.