IOSH has signed up to Vision Zero, a proposed strategy to keep all the world’s employees out of harm’s way while at work.
The campaign, led by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), is based on the view that all work-related accidents, diseases and harm are preventable.
IOSH is a longstanding member of ISSA, with representation on the prevention, education and training sections. It has been central to the development of the Vision Zero global campaign, with particular input to the free-to-access guide for trainers which has been recently launched.
Bev Messinger, IOSH chief executive, said: “As demonstrated by the dedication of our members and our continuing investment in research, IOSH is driven by a desire to reduce the loss and devastation caused by accidents and diseases in the workplace.
“It’s great to be able to formalise our commitment to this campaign. Vision Zero fits perfectly with WORK 2022, our five-year strategy which was launched last year to make our vision of a safe and healthy world of work a reality.
“Each year there are 2.78 million deaths through work-related diseases and 340 million work-related accidents resulting in devastation among families and 3.94% lost GDP globally. However, all of this could be prevented.”
Vision Zero was launched by ISSA at the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Singapore in September 2017. Over 500 organisations across the world have joined as partners (businesses, universities, ministries, social security agencies and professional bodies).
Shelley Frost, Director of Strategic Development at IOSH and President of the education and training section of ISSA, said: “This campaign aims to motivate and support businesses to develop a workplace prevention culture.
“Building an organisation’s prevention culture is a challenging but rewarding task, as evidenced by our members. They have shown us that establishing and embedding a Vision Zero culture within an organisation has proven to effect long-term positive change in occupational safety and health. The Vision Zero strategy is not prescriptive; organisations can determine their own design and implementation plan to suit their organisation.
“Through our WORK 2022 strategy, we are working with our network of over 47,000 members worldwide to share all the good practices and innovative ideas in occupational safety, health and wellbeing which are already helping businesses to make this principle of Vision Zero a reality in their workplace.
“We hope professional trainers access the guide to help them train and guide organisations across the world on to develop their own Vision Zero strategy.”
IOSH is committed to promoting a safer world of work through integrating good safety, health and wellbeing at all levels.
“By joining this campaign, every professional can share the positives of the good work they are already doing as well as learning from others,” added Shelley.
IOSH encourages every organisation to sign up to Vision Zero.
