Occupational Safety and Health Staging Framework for Decent Work

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health Policy
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• United Nations Goal 8 emphasizes decent work, encompassing job creation, social protection, worker rights, and social dialogue.
• Occupational safety and health (OSH) aspects are integral to achieving decent work but require explicit integration.
• Emerging global challenges necessitate a re-evaluation of OSH's role in promoting decent work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elaborate a framework for integrating occupational safety and health (OSH) with the pillars of decent work.
• To provide guidance for practitioners, researchers, employers, workers, and authorities on promoting decent work through OSH.
• To address new and emerging hazards and risks impacting decent work and worker well-being.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on decent work and OSH.
• Analysis of perspectives from an International Commission on Occupational Health workgroup.
• Development of a framework intersecting decent work pillars with determinants of OSH.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive framework is presented, linking the four pillars of decent work with emerging OSH determinants.
• Determinants include new technologies, demographics, globalization, informal work, migration, pandemics, and climate change.
• The framework highlights the need for an expanded OSH focus on worker well-being.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a starting point for the OSH community to actively promote decent work.
• An expanded OSH focus is essential to address the future of decent work and ensure worker well-being.
• Integrating OSH into decent work strategies is vital for sustainable development and global health.