Celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work

World Day for Safety and Health at work is celebrated every year on the 28th of April. It’s a moment for businesses to ‘act together to build a positive safety and health culture’, even more important as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article looks at the history behind World Day for Safety and Health at work and how IT and Tech companies can get involved.

What is World Day for Safety and Health at work?

World Day for Safety and Health at work started in 2003. The International Labor Organization launched it to highlight the importance of preventing accidents and diseases at work.

A central pillar of the day is raising awareness that it’s not just about business and employers, but about cross-societal dialogue that involves key stakeholders including governments and social partners. In addition, the day serves as an educational event for sharing key facets of health and safety in the workplace as well as pushing occupational safety and health into key political agendas.

How can IT and tech companies celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at work?

Health and safety at work should be at the heart of your workplace culture. But the 28th April is a good day to reflect on your business and if there is any room for improvement.

Create a supportive workplace environment

A supportive workplace environment that empowers workers to raise their concerns around health and safety is pivotal to preemptively addressing any risks.

Adapt health and safety to evolving working practices

Since work-from-home practices doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere, you may want to reassess what ‘health and safety at work’ looks like in this context. You may discover new and emerging requirements to maintain the wellbeing of your employees. This includes addressing sources of stress or risks to your employees’ mental health, risk assessing their WFH setup, and making sure that your workers are safely using their equipment.

Enact a thorough health and safety policy

Effective health and safety policies are multi-faceted. They involve the implementation of robust working practices that are enforced by your managerial employees, and carried out by your employees. Committing in principle to health and safety isn’t enough, cultivating an atmosphere where all your workers feel empowered and protected by your policies is absolutely essential.

Continual training and reassessment

In order to ensure ongoing compliance with health and safety requirements, it is critical to remain vigilant and aware of the latest developments in legislation. Invest in continual training and education for all your staff to prevent apathy or desensitization when it comes to health and safety at work.