Team Blitz India
IN response to the alarming impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is set to introduce a comprehensive legal framework aimed at safeguarding the global workforce from biological hazards.
The initiative will be unveiled at the upcoming 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva scheduled from June 3 to 14.
As many ad 186 countries are set to participate and engage in deliberations regarding biological hazards faced by labour force. Subsequently, member nations will be tasked with formulating national policies aligned with international standards to ensure the safety of workers.
In a press brief issued by the ILO, the organisation explained that these policies could either be standalone legislation or integrated within existing laws governing occupational safety, health, and working conditions.
At the national level, a clear-cut outline with specific duties and responsibilities will be framed for employers to be followed for the prevention and protection against biological hazards. Along with provisions for regular review and updates, where necessary, alongside conducting risk assessments to safeguard worker health and safety.
Workers employed in diverse industries such as healthcare, laboratories, animal husbandry, grain storage, sewage treatment, and waste disposal face substantial risks from biological hazards. These hazards comprise bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, prions, DNA material, bodily fluids, and other microorganisms, as well as their associated allergens and toxins.
“These biological hazards may not only cause, impact or exacerbate communicable diseases such as Covid 19 but also non-communicable diseases such as allergies,” the press release noted.
A 2021 ILO study revealed that exposure to both contagious and noncontagious biological risks resulted in approximately 550,000 fatalities that year.
