© ISO 2007 - all rights reserved
27
Not dismiss or otherwise discriminate against workers, threaten to relocate or outsource jobs or take 1276
advantage of unduly lengthy or complicated legal procedures where the purpose is to thwart workers 1277
who seek to form or join their own organizations and to bargain collectively; 1278
Provide duly designated worker representatives with access to authorized decision makers, access to
1279 workplaces and to those they represent, the facilities necessary to perform their role and information
1280 that will allow them to have a true and fair picture of the organizations finances and activities; and
1281
Not encourage governments to restrict the exercise of the internationally recognized rights of freedom 1282
of association and collective bargaining; it should not participate in incentive schemes based on such 1283
restrictions. 1284
6.4.6 Labour practices issue 4: Health and safety at work
1285
6.4.6.1 Description of the issue
1286 Health and safety at work concerns the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical,
1287 mental and social well-being of workers and prevention of harm to health caused by working conditions, the
1288 protection of workers from risks adverse to health and the adaptation of the occupational environment to
1289
the physiological and psychological capabilities of workers. 1290
The costs to society of work-related illness, injuries and death are high. Pollutants and other workplace 1291
hazards that are harmful for workers can also have severe impacts on communities and on the general 1292
environment. Health and safety issues arise over dangerous equipment, processes, practices and 1293
substances chemical, physical and biological. 1294
Socially responsible health and safety practices can reduce costs, improve morale and increase 1295
productivity. 1296
6.4.6.2 Related actions or expectations 1297
An organization should: 1298
Seek to understand the health and safety risks involved in its activities. It should also understand the
1299 proper procedures that should be followed and provide the safety equipment needed for the prevention
1300 of accidents and for dealing with emergencies ;
1301
Have a health and safety policy that clearly states that no phase of operation or administration of the 1302
organization is more important than safety and health and that safety and health is an integral part of 1303
all of its activities; 1304
Respect the principle that health and safety measures should not involve expenditures by workers; and
1305
Adopt health and safety systems that are based on the participation of the workers concerned and that 1306
recognize and respect the rights of workers to: 1307
Full and accurate information concerning the health and safety risks and the best practices
1308 used to address these risks;
1309
Freely inquire into and to be consulted on all aspects of their health and safety; 1310
Refuse hazardous work;
1311
Seek outside advice on health and safety issues; 1312
Report health and safety matters to the authorities;
1313
Participate in health and safety processes and decisions; and 1314
Be free of reprisals for doing any of these things.
1315 1316
28
© ISO 2007 - all rights reserved
1317
Box 3 Joint labour-management health and safety committees
1318 For many organizations, joint labour-management health and safety committees are the most valuable part
1319 of the organizations health and safety program. Joint committees can perform important roles such as
1320 information gathering, the development of safety manuals and training programs, the reporting, recording
1321 and investigation of accidents, inspections and responding to problems raised by employees. Worker
1322 representatives on these committees should not be appointed by management but elected by the workers
1323 themselves. Membership in these committees should be equally divided among management and worker
1324 representatives. The committees should be of sufficient size for all shifts, sections and locations to be
1325 represented.
1326 1327
6.4.7 Labour practices issue 5: Human [resource] development
