Establish mechanisms for ensuring compliance and enforcement capacity
Governments should enforce the application of laws and regulations on OSH in the area of chemical safety in the workplace. They must be prepared to enforce requirements and adequate resources should be made available for monitoring, inspections, and other enforcement-related activities. A strong enforcement policy not only helps to ensure industry will be in compliance, but also builds trust with the public. The aims of labour inspection are:
- Enforcement of legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work.
- Provision of technical information and advice to employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the legal provisions.
- Identification of defects or abuses not specifically covered by available legal provisions.
Relevant tools
Below is a list of tools relevant for implementing this topic :
- ILO: Guidelines on the general principles of labour inspection (2022)
- ILO: Conducting Occupational Safety and Health Inspections in Agricultural Undertakings – A guide for labour inspectors (2021)
- ILO: Key principles underlying sanctioning procedures applicable to occupational safety and health violations (2021)
- ILO: Code of practice - Safety in the use of chemicals at work (1993)
- ILO: Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164), 1981, and its Protocol of 2002
- ILO: Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129)
- ILO: Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81) and Recommendation (No. 81), 1947
- ILO: Background information for developing an ILO policy framework for hazardous substances (2007)