The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated every year on April 28 to promote safe, healthy, and decent work environments across the globe. The day was first celebrated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2003 and since then this day serves as an occasion to promote the prevention of occupational accidents including diseases for individuals and organisations in the workplace.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024: History

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work was celebrated for the first time in 2003 by the ILO. The organisation declared this day as an annual international campaign to promote awareness about the importance of a healthy and safe workplace.

The International Commemoration Day of Dead and Injured Workers is also observed on this day across the world and celebrates the anniversary of the 1971 adoption of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention by the ILO.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024: Significance

1. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work plays an important role in ensuring the safety and health of all workers at work places.
2. This day provides an opportunity for individuals and organisations to reflect on the steps they can take to promote a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment.
3. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about safety and health issues in the workplace.
4. In June 2022, the International Labour Conference (ILC) also included “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024: Theme

Every year, the ILO announces a different theme or topic for discussion to raise awareness about safety and health issues in the workplace. For this year, the theme will focus on ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024: Quotes and Messages

1. The health and safety of each and every worker is important and is a matter of life and death and must never be ignored. Happy World Day for Safety and Health at Work to you.
2. Safety is not a gadget, but a state of mind. – Eleanor Everet
3. Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands. – Jeff Cooper
4. There’s no better policy in society than pursuing the health and safety of its people.– Ralph Nader
5. An incident is just the tip of the iceberg, a sign of a much larger problem below the surface. – Don Brow
6. Never compromise with the health and safety standards at your workplace. Happy World Day for Safety and Health at Work to you.

How to Celebrate at Workplace

This day is celebrated annually on April 28 by government agencies, employers’ organisations, trade unions, and other organisations involved in promoting safety and health at work. There are various ways to celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work:

• Poster making contest
• Workshops and seminars
• Training
• Felicitation ceremonies
• Campaigns

There are many other ways to celebrate the day but the most important thing is to learn and recognise the importance of creating safe and healthy work environments for employees.