Xpress text - Ch 1-8 (pp.1-56) :Intro-CH1 (p.

1-40) 27/06/2008 15:10 Page 41

NATIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
6

National programmes are strategic programmes with a predetermined

time frame that focus on specific national priorities for occupational safety
and health, identified through analysis of the national OSH system and an
up-to-date national profile (see below). The aims of these programmes are to
promote the development and maintenance of a preventive safety and
health culture and to bring about continuous improvement in the weak or
ineffective elements of the national OSH system, identified through
monitoring and evaluation. The national programme is the “Act” element of
the “Plan–Do–Check–Act” cycle which is at the heart of the systems manage-
ment approach to occupational safety and health. If it is to be successful, it is
essential that representative organizations of employers and workers, and of
other interested parties when the need arises, are consulted. It is equally
important that the programme is widely publicized and endorsed by the
highest national authorities. While such programmes need clear objectives,
targets and indicators, overall they should also aim to strengthen the national
system for occupational safety and health to ensure that improvements are
sustainable and to build and maintain a national preventive safety and health
culture. In order to ensure that scarce resources are used effectively, the
development of a national programme on occupational safety and health
should include a number of logical steps:
• national tripartite agreement to establish a national programme on
occupational safety and health;
• establishment of coordination mechanisms for the elaboration and
implementation of the programme;
• preparation of a national profile on occupational safety and health;

41
Xpress text - Ch 1-8 (pp.1-56) :Intro-CH1 (p.1-40) 27/06/2008 15:10 Page 42

Fundamental principles of occupational health and safety

• analysis and identification of strong and weak points in the national

system for occupational safety and health, using the national profile;
• identification of priorities for national action to improve occupational
safety and health;
• development of action plans in a national programme on occupational
safety and health, including indicators of success;
• launch of the national programme on occupational safety and health with
the endorsement of the highest national authorities (to ensure
occupational safety and health is placed high on the national agenda);
• establishment of sustainable mechanisms for review, updating of data and
continual improvements in effectiveness;
• eventual designation of new priorities for action through the establish-
ment of a new national programme on occupational safety and health
based on an updated national profile on occupational safety and health.

A national profile on occupational safety and health

Once government, employers and workers have agreed to formulate a national
programme on occupational safety and health, the first technical step is to
carry out a review of the national OSH situation. This can best be done
systematically by preparing a national profile on occupational safety and
health. Such a national profile summarizes the existing OSH situation,
including national data on occupational accidents and diseases, high-risk
industries and occupations, and the description of national systems for
occupational safety and health and other national means of acting in this area.
The information to be included in the compilation of a national profile on
occupational safety and health is described in the Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation, 2006 (No. 197). National
profiles on occupational safety and health also facilitate systematic review of
the improvements in national systems and programmes for occupational
safety and health. A national profile on occupational safety and health should:
• be prepared at the country level through a process that involves the
competent authority, all other designated authorities concerned with the
various aspects of occupational safety and health, and, more importantly,
the most representative organizations of employers and workers;
• include basic data on all the factors that may affect the sound
management of occupational safety and health at both the national and

42
Xpress text - Ch 1-8 (pp.1-56) :Intro-CH1 (p.1-40) 27/06/2008 15:10 Page 43

National programmes for occupational safety and health

the enterprise level, including the existing legislative framework, available

mechanisms and infrastructures for implementation and enforcement,
workforce distribution, human and financial resources devoted to
occupational safety and health, and OSH initiatives taken at the
enterprise level and the level of protection afforded by them;
• provide practical information on activities under way at the country level
(e.g. activities related to the implementation of international agreements,
ongoing and planned technical assistance projects);
• enable a country to identify gaps in existing legal, institutional, adminis-
trative and technical infrastructure related to the sound management of
occupational safety and health, taking into account relevant ILO
Conventions, Recommendations and codes of practice;
• provide a means for improved coordination among all parties interested
in occupational safety and health.

The process of preparing the profile may itself serve as a starting point
for improved coordination. It should encourage communication between the
various groups and bodies concerned, and foster an improved understanding
of the potential problems within the country and the activities being
undertaken to address them. A model outline for preparing a national profile
is provided in Annex IV.

43