‘Stop the Pandemic’ ­– Tips for Factories on World Day for Safety and Health at Work

28th April 2020 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work (#worldWHSday2020). To recognize the enormous global challenge that countries, businesses, and employees are facing at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has selected ‘Stop the Pandemic’ as the theme this year.The ILO Centenary Declaration states that “safe and healthy working conditions are fundamental to decent work”. To enable businesses to provide healthy working conditions for their employees, ILO has published guidance that outlines occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that arise from the spread of COVID-19 and suggests measures businesses can take to prevent and control the risk of contagion.View the ILO guidance hereView the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 poster hereIn addition to the OHS advice given by the ILO, the ICTI Ethical Toy Program (IETP) also reminds factories on how they can help curb the spread of COVID-19 by paying attention to all workspaces and other areas where workers gather including canteens and dormitories. IETP has created best practice guidance to help factories maintain good hygiene standards in dormitories and other communal areas. The advice is based on section 14 “Dormitory and Canteen” guidance in the IETP Audit Checklist. For example: Dormitory rooms, common areas, washroom, and shower facilities should be well-ventilated and maintained in a functional, and clean condition Factories should provide an adequate amount of toilet and shower facilities Washrooms should provide appropriate facilities such as hot water and laundry amenities as neededRubbish must be removed regularly IETP’s advice compliments guidance issued by local governments on the necessary sanitation measures which factories should implement for epidemic prevention. Click here to share IETP's guidance in Chinese with your suppliers