Monday the 28th April will mark the International Labour Organizations' (ILOs) World Day for Safety and Health at Work which is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO.
The ILO campaign promotes the creation of a global preventative safety and health culture.
The day is designed to promote the global prevention of workplace accidents and diseases.
Also on the 28th April, the world's Trade Union movement holds its International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers.
So the 28th April is also is designed to honour the memory of victims of workplace accidents and diseases.
The World Day for Safety and Health at Work and the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers serve to raise attention on the impact of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.
At the Risk Management Toolbox, we encourage all businesses - big and small - to contribute to global efforts to reduce occupational injuries and fatalities.
The ILO theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2014 is "safety and health in the use of hazardous substances at work".
Research shows that somewhere between two and eight per cent of all cancers experienced in the population result from workplace exposure to harmful chemicals.
So on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 28th April 2014 - why not organize a specific chemical safety event?
Here are some suggestions:
+ Conduct an audit of the use of hazardous substances in your workplace;
+ Review your chemical register;
+ Check that your Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are in current date for all chemicals on site; or
+ Select a hazardous substance and run a tool-box talk on the possible health effects it may have.