Meaningful initiatives have been developed to address the various facets of a safe and healthy working environment, including monitoring, compliance, and remediation. However, there is no zero risk-injury working environment.

Robust occupational safety and health (OSH) laws and policies and good business practices, combined with employment injury insurance schemes, contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a recent report, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Global Compact have highlighted the following key practices to improve safety and health through supply chains and create a culture of prevention and protection among worldwide companies:

1) Map your supply chains to gain a better understanding of existing occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges

2) Include OSH and employment injury protection in procurement practices

3) Improve the monitoring of OSH compliance, including through closer engagement with suppliers

4) Promote vertical and horizontal knowledge and capacity sharing

5) Align and complement the national legal and policy framework and be a driver for improvement

6) Promote workers’ participation and social dialogue

7) Support efforts to enhance the reporting, recording, and notification of occupational injuries and diseases to improve data collection

8) Engage with development partners to share knowledge of good practices and innovative approaches to build capacity and partnerships

9) Join international initiatives to support the development of national policies and strengthen national institutions in sourcing countries on OSH practices and employment injury protection

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Source: Nine Business Practices for Improving Safety and Health Through Supply Chains and Building a Culture of Prevention and Protection