WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK 28 April
What is this day about?
Every 28 April, we mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work. It’s a global push for jobs that are safe, healthy, and fair.
The goal: Every worker should go home alive and well at the end of the day.
Why does it matter?
1. Lives lost: About 6,500 people die every day from work-related diseases. Another 1,000 die from accidents at work. That’s 86% from sickness, 14% from accidents.
2. Money lost: Days lost to unsafe work cost the world almost 4% of GDP. In some countries, it’s up to 6%. Unsafe work hurts people _and_ the economy.
3. New risks: Today’s biggest problems aren’t just falls or cuts. They include stress, mental health struggles, heart disease, lung disease, and cancers linked to work.
What makes a safe workplace?
A strong safety culture means:
- *Governments* make good rules and check that they’re followed.
- *Employers* provide training, safe tools, and protect workers’ health.
- *Workers* speak up, follow safety steps, and look out for each other.
Safety isn’t one person’s job. It takes everyone.
How to mark the day
1. Learn from experts: Bring in a safety trainer to run a workshop on health and safety at your job site.
2. Host a “Work Safety Day”: Do fun, practical activities that teach safe ways to work. Practice fire drills, lifting tips, or stress management.
3. Speak up online: Share your workplace safety tips using #WorldDayForSafety, #SafeDay, #WorkSafe, #HealthAndSafety.
History
The International Labour Organization (ILO) started this day in 2003. It falls on 28 April, the same day as the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers.
The bottom line
No job is worth a life. Safe work is a right, not a bonus. On 28 April, ask: Is my workplace safe? What can we do better?
0 Comments