According to a study published in 2021 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), nearly 2 million people die each year from work-related causes. 81% of these deaths correspond to non-communicable diseases and 19% are related to occupational injuries. There is also a reported trend of deaths from heart disease and stroke associated with exposure to long working hours.
Some of the most common causes of these types of accidents are related to lack of knowledge, undersupply of appropriate personal protective equipment, lack of analysis and awareness campaigns regarding exposure to risks and hazards, and insufficient training for the workforce. In fact, the study identified that between 2000 and 2016, work-related fatalities were reduced by 14% thanks to improvements in workplace health and safety management.
Bearing in mind the importance of having safe work environments and managing occupational risks, the IDB has included specific requirements for the health and safety management of the projects it finances in its Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF). The Environmental and Social Performance Standard 2 (ESPS 2) on labor and working conditions recognizes that the pursuit of economic growth through job creation and income generation must go hand in hand with the protection of the fundamental rights of workers. Constructive worker-employer relationships, coupled with fair treatment and safe and healthy working conditions, lead to tangible benefits such as increased efficiency and productivity.
ESPS 2: A safe environment for every worker
ESPS 2 establishes the type of relationship that must exist between the borrower and any direct, indirect and supply chain worker, as appliccable. It also describes the minimum health and safety conditions that must be provided to workers, adapted to the nature and size of the project and workforce, including:
- Insurance with coverage for occupational accidents and illness
- Work equipment that takes into account ergonomic and occupational health conditions
- Personal protective equipment at no cost to the worker
- Adequate lighting and ambient temperature
- Appropriate rest areas
- Canteens
- Access to drinking water
- Services that meet their physical, social and cultural needs
In order to respect and protect the fundamental principles and rights of workers through safe and healthy working conditions, ESPS 2 requires the creation of a Health and Safety Plan that includes, among others, the following aspects:
- The identification of potential hazards to workers, especially those that may constitute a threat to their lives
- The establishment of preventive and protective measures, including the elimination, substitution or modification of hazardous conditions or substances
- Training for workers and related record keeping
- Documentation and reporting of occupational accidents, injuries, illnesses and incidents
- Arrangements for emergency prevention, preparedness and response
- Means of redress for adverse impacts, such as occupational injury, death, disability and illness
Disclosure, worker engagement and grievance mechanisms
In addition to the Health and Safety Plan, ESPS 2 establishes that the project must have a Labor Management Procedure that includes, among others, procedures related to orientation and training programs on managing risks associated with labor and health conditions.
Likewise, all entities employing or contracting project workers must develop and implement procedures to establish and maintain a safe working environment. This includes ensuring that the work sites, machinery, equipment and processes under their control are safe and do not pose any health risks, including the adoption of appropriate measures with regard to chemical, physical and biological substances and agents.
Ongoing dissemination of the health and safety culture within the project is key to achieving accident reduction and avoiding work-related fatalities. All entities must actively collaborate with project workers to keep them informed and promote understanding of occupational health and safety requirements and methods for their implementation. In addition, they are required to provide occupational health and safety training.
Another central provision of ESPS 2 is the need for a grievance mechanism in which project workers can report work situations that they perceive to be unsafe or unhealthy, and through which they can remove themselves from a work situation that they believe, with reasonable justification, exposes their life or health to imminent and serious danger.
Protect the rights of a valuable asset
Promoting constructive relations between workers and employers, providing a safe and healthy working environment, and managing occupational hazards that may be present in a development project are not only part of protecting the fundamental rights of workers and complying with the provisions of international conventions and instruments, such as those of the ILO and the United Nations. Ensuring favorable conditions for workers is an essential ingredient for sustainability and an imperative to protect one of the most valuable assets of any project: the workforce.
If you want to learn more about how to manage project health, safety and labor conditions through the ESPF, register for our free course:
Hazardous area training equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to assess and minimize risks effectively.