With the development of AI and robot technology, it is predicted that there will be more opportunities for collaboration between people and machines.
In particular, the future use of AI needs to be discussed not only technically but also ethically.
This session will discuss how machines, including AI, should be used to realize the Well-being of people, and what should be done as a technical challenge to achieve this.
The value of people and their health and safety at work is an essential dimension of sustainability. Learn how the safety and health of workers is a fundamental building block of sustainability and sustainable growth, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3; “Good health and well-being” and Goal 8; “Decent work and economic growth”. This creates value for an organization and influences decision-making.
These experts provide real-world, valuable insights into how organizations leverage sustainability to elevate workplace safety and health.
The session will include a facilitated workshop where attendees will participate in an exchange of ideas, best practices and learning on the true value of Health and Safety at Work.
This session will explore the critical role of national prevention strategies and programmes in enhancing safety, health, and wellbeing in the workplace and developing a socially responsible business culture.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) executives from diverse regions around the globe will present successful initiatives and innovative approaches tailored to their national contexts.
Participants will gain insights into the effectiveness of various national policies, innovative approaches to strengthen risk prevention and integrate health promotion in occupational settings, and the critical collaboration between government, industry, and labour organizations.
By sharing best practices and lessons learned, this session aims to foster a global dialogue on advancing occupational health and safety standards, ultimately contributing to safer and healthier work environments for all. Join us to learn from real- world experiences and discuss the future of workplace wellbeing strategies across different cultures and economies.
At construction sites, strategies have been introduced to ensure quality while simultaneously improving safety and productivity. Moreover, in recent years, worker well-being has been recognized as a crucial element of corporate management from the perspective of the SDGs. In this session, members of the IGSAP Construction Committee, representing Japan’s leading construction companies, will discuss practical examples of achieving simultaneous improvements in productivity and safety. The session aims to contribute to promoting SDGs and realizing well-being at construction sites.
As we confront a rapidly evolving world of work and the emerging risks that this presents to the worker, the need for strong global standards and practices in safety, health, and wellbeing has never been more critical.
This session will highlight key occupational hygiene priorities on the global stage and focus on embedding the newly established fundamental principle and right of safety and health at work into the values and strategies of workplaces worldwide.
A central theme will be the shortage of qualified practitioners and the need to build more partnerships to drive global change. We will discuss the urgency of building a competent and certified workforce, highlighting a successful model from Japan, and the broader global implications of such efforts. Additionally, we will address the challenges of reaching informal workers and strategies to extend occupational hygiene prevention efforts and worker protection to those often excluded from traditional frameworks.
Finally, the session will consider the role of advocacy and the call for a collective response to ensure that these vital issues are embedded in future work environments.
What connects countries as different as Luxembourg, the Republic of Senegal and Colombia? All three provide good examples of how the Vision Zero strategy is being implemented in countries and companies around the globe.
Developed by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) in 2017, Vision Zero has been launched in over 50 countries so far. What began as a campaign has subsequently developed into a strategy that has become a global success thanks to its simplicity, its flexible implementation at country, sector and company level and, not least, its emotional appeal.
Vision Zero is based on the belief that all occupational accidents and diseases are preventable. At the heart of the strategy are the “7 Golden Rules” and the Vision Zero Guides, which focus on a good management culture, people-oriented work, participation and sustainability in the corporate culture. The message is: safety, health and well-being at work must not just be a concern for experts, but must be discussed and practiced on a daily basis in companies and educational institutions.
This Track highlights on the basis of select country examples how the Vision Zero strategy has been successfully transformed into national programs and activities, what lessons were learned and what are the next steps.
The digitalization of procedures in many branches of the world is also creating new framework conditions for occupational safety and health. Networking, accessibility and control through computers and information technologies, closely linked to increasing work intensification, are topics that are challenging prevention work worldwide, and will even accelerate in the coming years. Digitalization has a wide range of effects on the safety, health and well-being of employees. This change is not only affecting production, but all areas of the economy, from development to planning and management. Digitalization makes people mobile and flexible and allows them to work almost indefinitely: at work, at home and on the way to work or to their next appointment.
In addition to possible risks for employees, the digital transformation also offers great potential for making work safer, healthier, more flexible, diversified and more inclusive in the future. The possibilities range from intelligent safety technology, new human-machine interfaces and wearables – especially data glasses – to digital qualification aids. This practice track explores how companies and organizations are using digitalization to optimize occupational safety and health measures and minimize risks. Practical examples will be presented to help understand our current challenges and opportunities of the digital working life.
This session focuses on challenges and prospects for the future of occupational health:
This session addresses the trajectory of occupational health in Japan outlining:
• The development and contributions of occupational health in Japan: A journey since 1929
• The history of hazardous chemicals, industrial poisoning, asbestos, and related issues
• Psychosocial factors and mental health: Japan's unique stress check system
• Measures to address overwork-related deaths (karoshi) and suicides due to overwork
• COVID-19 workplace countermeasures: A 10-minute video featuring interviews with those involved in production and occupational health professionals who worked on-site
Building a robust high-risk management culture is critical for organizational success and the well-being of employees. This presentation explores actionable strategies to foster a positive risk-searching work environment and identifies key pitfalls that can undermine these efforts.
The first part of the presentation focuses on four foundational elements that can effectively build a strong risk management culture: shared vision, visible felt leadership, employee engagement, learning and transparency. Each of these strategies is examined through real-world examples and practical insights, demonstrating how they can be implemented to create a proactive and resilient safety culture.
The second part of the presentation highlights three common yet often overlooked ways that safety cultures can be inadvertently destroyed: misalignment, inconsistency, trust, and failure to adapt. By understanding these destructive elements, organizations can take proactive measures to avoid them and sustain their risk management culture over time.
This session will be a mix of presentations, exchanges, and learning to equip, managers, a safety professionals and organizational leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to build and maintain an effective and efficient high-risk management culture adapted and integrated to business needs and protect employees from life- changing incidents.
Canada’s labour market is in crisis, with many employers facing a chronic shortage of skilled employees, decreased productivity, and increasing mental health claims due to workplace stress and burnout. One notable factor emerging: in organizations that are successfully navigating these challenges is emotionally intelligent leadership.
Emotional intelligence has become a critical factor in shaping workplace dynamics, influencing organizational performance and employee mental health and engagement. This discussion will examine how emotionally intelligent leadership can foster a healthier, more productive work environment—highlighting key trends and challenges within Canadian organizations. In this critical session, panelists will provide research-driven insights and practical strategies for integrating emotional intelligence into leadership practices to enhance overall workplace wellbeing.
Objectives:
1.Examine the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: To explore how the emotional intelligence of an organization’s leaders influences workplace culture, employee engagement, and overall wellbeing.
2.Highlight Canadian-Specific Trends and Challenges: To identify key trends, challenges, and opportunities in Canadian workplaces in fostering emotionally intelligent leadership.
3.Provide Research-Based Insights: To offer evidence-based insights and case studies that demonstrate the tangible effects of emotionally intelligent leadership on organizational performance and employee mental health.
4.Share Practical Strategies: To equip participants with practical strategies and tools to integrate emotional intelligence into their leadership practices, improving team dynamics and workplace wellbeing.
5.Promote Discussion and Thought Leadership: To facilitate a dialogue among industry experts and leaders about the importance of emotional intelligence in driving organizational success and employee satisfaction.
Digitalisation has the potential to significantly enhance safety, health, and wellbeing in the workplace by leveraging technology to create a more responsive and proactive environment. By implementing digital tools such as wearable devices, IoT sensors, and mobile health applications, organizations can monitor employee health and safety in real time, enabling early detection of potential hazards and health issues.
Digital platforms also improve communication and training, ensuring that employees are well-informed about safety protocols and available health resources. Furthermore, data analytics and AI can identify trends and areas for improvement, leading to more effective risk management strategies. By fostering a culture of prevention through digital initiatives, employers can enhance employee engagement, reduce absenteeism, and promote a healthier work-life balance.
Overall, integrating digital solutions in the workplace not only supports compliance with safety regulations but also contributes to a more resilient and thriving organizational culture. Following an introduction to the topic, senior SHE managers will present practical business cases from various industries, discussing the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation for prevention.
This symposium will highlight the critical role of workplaces in promoting health, safety, and overall wellbeing for all people. The event aims to launch a new WHO/ILO global strategy targeting the enhancement of workplace health, safety and wellbeing. With over 3 million annual deaths and economic losses amounting to US$6 trillion due to unsafe working environments, the need for proactive action is urgent. Healthy, safe, and happy work not only benefits individuals but also contributes to economic growth, with potential added value of up to US$11 trillion globally. However, healthy work for happy lives is more than deaths and money, it is about the quality of live, happiness and societal wellbeing.
The symposium inspired by the Expo25 theme, "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," will emphasize the integration of safe, empowering, and connected work environments into the broader vision of societal development. Key stakeholders— business leaders, policymakers, and workers—are called to prioritize health and wellbeing in business strategies, policies, and personal choices. Through discussions, country case studies, and expert insights, the symposium will explore innovative solutions and foster commitments to transforming workplaces into centers for promoting lifelong health and wellbeing. The symposium will serve as a platform for envisioning a future where healthy work becomes a universal standard, shaping healthier lives and happier societies.
Digitalisation is revolutionising occupational health and safety by enhancing prevention strategies, reducing risks, and promoting overall well-being. This session will explore the latest trends and technological advancements shaping the future of workplace safety.
Participants will gain insights into cutting-edge innovations such as smart personal protective equipment (PPE), wearables, sensors and drones, as well as AI supported OSH-management tools, all of which are transforming risk management and improving employee health.
By highlighting these pioneering technologies, the session will showcase how digital tools are reshaping the way we approach safety in dynamic, high-risk environments, ultimately fostering healthier, more efficient workplaces.
The European Commission identifies digitalisation, together with climate change as the most important transitions facing the European Union and it has addressed the impact on work in its Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027.
In this symposium, we are considering the both the challenges and the opportunities presented by digitalisation in relation to safety and health at work. Advances in technology raise the prospect of new risks, but also of opportunities to improve conditions for workers at all stages of their life and career. Digital technologies can provide workers, including workers with disabilities or older workers, and their employers with digitally enabled solutions to support their health and wellbeing. However, new technologies also pose challenges due to both the increased irregularity in when and where work is performed and the risks related to new tools and machinery.
Research by EU-OSHA shows that while the vast majority ofcompanies in the EU have integrated digital technologies in their operations, less than one in four (24%) consider the potential impact of such technologies on the safety and health of workers. This session is organised jointly by the European Commission (DG EMPL) and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU- OSHA).
The high-level participants in this session will share their insights on how policy actions can ensure that the digital transition brings benefits to workers around the world while minimising the potential risks. They will consider the automation of tasks and robotics, the use of digital platforms, artificial intelligence in worker management, remote working,and the use of smart digital tools in risk prevention.
There will be a panel discussion involving experts from social partners and stakeholders with global experience that will consider the impact of the digitalisation of work on occupational safety and health. Advancing faster than any innovation in our history, digital technologies have transformed our society and our daily lives. For workers and employers in all economic sectors, digital technology offers increased opportunities but also presents greater challenges and risks in terms of safety and health.
Rapid development of computer power, interconnectivity and machine learning has opened new windows to apply AI, digitalization and technology to improve workplace safety. This session shares some of the successful cases of apply innovations to enhance safety, including:
Climate change poses significant health risks for workers, especially through heat stress, which can impact physiological functions and contribute to serious health outcomes. Large datasets reveal patterns in heat-related health effects, offering insight into how various stressors from a changing climate exacerbate health risks.
To protect workers, especially in high-exposure settings, strategies are being developed to mitigate climate-related health impacts. These include workplace adaptations and innovative technology applications, such as robotics, to reduce unnecessary heat exposure.
Migrant workers face unique challenges, with extreme weather and high heat levels intensifying both physical and psychosocial strain. Targeted interventions for migrant workers are essential, focusing on regional adaptations, social support, and protective measures that address the diverse impacts of climate stressors across geographic and cultural contexts.
Collaborative robots are becoming more common in manufacturing sites, and the number of situations in which machines and workers work together and cooperate with each other to perform tasks is increasing. However, in workplaces where people and machines work in the same space and at the same time, traditional safety measures that physically separate people and machines are often not practical.
Given this situation, a new safety concept that utilizes ICT, known as "Collaborative Safety," is required for humans and machines to work together and cooperate with each other. "Collaborative safety" is the concept of building a system in which people, machines, and the environment work together to carry out work safely and efficiently, without relying on physical separation.
This symposium will introduce technologies, implementation examples, and challenges for achieving "collaborative safety" from the perspectives of users, machine manufacturers, and safety equipment manufacturers. There will also be a presentation on the latest trends in international standardization on collaborative safety, proposing new relationships between people and machines in the manufacturing workplaces of the future.
The importance of decent work in achieving sustainable development is highlighted by Goal 8 which aims to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
Among others, the realization of a safe and healthy working environment will also contribute to the achievement of the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 1, 3 and 7.
The ultimate objective of this panel discussion is to accelerate progress to SDGs by
1)raising awareness on safe and healthy working environment as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work; and
2)examining occupational safety and health as driving force to achieve SDGs.
As the world we live in continues to change rapidly every day so do the places in which we work. Safety, health and wellbeing must be at the heart of work today and in the future so everyone can go home safe, healthy and well, every day. Our profession must continue to evolve.
In this session we will discuss how the role of the OSH professional has already evolved and what is influencing further change - including the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies, including AI and machine learning; how changing demographics are impacting workplace risk profiles; climate change and other environmental impacts, how work is organised and the complexities of balancing agile and hybrid models of working; the importance of psychological safety and what all this means for the role of the OSH professional.
In today’s competitive landscape, it is imperative that businesses prioritize not only profitability but also the social sustainability of their operations. This session will explore holistic approaches to managing safety, health, and well-being at the enterprise level, emphasizing the long-term benefits for organizations and employees, their families and their communities.
Through a series of expert presentations, we will examine frameworks and approaches such as Vision Zero, Total Worker Health®, and One Life: Work & Home. Strategies will be showcased that go beyond compliance to foster an interdependent culture of safety and well-being. These approaches aim to integrate physical, social, and mental health initiatives, enabling workers to thrive both at work and at home.
Discussion will include the growing importance of attracting, supporting, and retaining talent in socially responsible enterprises across sectors and around the globe. A strong focus on well-being as a key differentiator in the modern business environment will be highlighted and explored.
In an era where manufacturing and production are rapidly evolving, the integration of predictive digital solutions has become essential for enhancing efficiency, safety, and innovation on the 'shop floor'. It is important to consider how these technologies can be harnessed to predict equipment failures, optimise workflows and improve overall productivity, but more than ever all whilst ensuring a safe working environment.
This session will delve into real-world case studies demonstrating the successful implementation of predictive analytics and virtual simulations, highlighting the tangible benefits realised by organisations that have embraced these advanced solutions, whilst addressing the critical importance of responsible technology deployment, focusing on ethical considerations, data security, and the need for a skilled workforce to manage these complex systems.
This session aims to explore strategies and practices that promote safe and robust alignment with a company culture and structure that supports a sustainable and human-centric adoption of technologies in consultation and with the participation of workers as part of a system that prioritises the promotion of workers’ safety, rights and skills development.
Today’s economy is characterized by globalisation and cross- border trade with highly sophisticated global supply chains to organize the activities needed to develop, produce, and deliver goods and services to the consumers. Currently one of the main challenges in global supply chains is leveraging the supply chains for improvements in occupational safety, health and wellbeing (OSHW), because violation of basic human rights and/or occupational health and safety are often complained.
Against this background the need for OSHW improvement along global supply chains is widely recognized – but how can it be achieved?
In the session different aspects and best practice examples are showcased. The universal VISION ZERO strategy as well as due diligence obligations and the up to date technical progress become drivers for OSHW along supply chains. This given the holistic approach is key in order to create sustainable supply chains.
The presentation will introduce the international initiatives undertaken by three key institutions representing occupational safety and health in Japan: the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA), the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH), and the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (UOEH). The discussion will focus on promoting future international cooperation in the field.
EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) has been used in healthcare and medical field in recent years. The demand in the field is increasing, and even if you want to exercise in a clinical setting in a hospital, you can exercise on your own.
There are many cases that EMS technology is used for the rehabilitation of patients who are unable to perform voluntary movements with a load. In this session, we would like to introduce specific clinical research cases and evidence by doctors who are actually using EMS technology for actually rehabilitating patients at hospitals.
The first hospital is the case of the medical corporation Kaikokai in Aichi Prefecture. Kaikokai in Japan
The hospital has the third largest number of hemodialysis patients, and uses EMS technology as part of an exercise regimen for aging dialysis patients. Dialysis patients are on hemodialysis in bed for four hours three times a week, but the non-gravity conditions make them more susceptible to sarcopenia, which increases the risk of over-the-counter fractures. We will introduce an example of using EMS technology during hemodialysis to prevent this.
The second case is at Kansai Medical University Hospital in Osaka Prefecture. At this Hospital, we had elderly cancer patients use Foot Fit at home as part of their post-discharge rehabilitation. Since rehabilitation after discharge can only be intervened about once a week, it is difficult to maintain and increase muscle strength. Therefore, EMS technology is used in everyday life where rehabilitation cannot intervene. We will introduce examples of clinical research that incorporating EMS technology leads to the maintenance and enhancement of muscle strength.
The third case is Kanazawa University Hospital. At Kanazawa University Hospital, EMS technology is used on the thigh before surgery for patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, and muscle strength is maintained and strengthened before surgery.
Here are some examples of clinical research that it led to the possibility of returning work early, by doing so.
This session will present proposals on the "ideal workplace (VA)" at a university that fosters collaborative creation, through case studies and discussions on workstyle reforms and engagement improvement at our institution. The VA we aspire to achieve was deliberated upon at the "Support Project for the G7 Kurashiki Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting: 'Building Our Ideal Workplace (VA)' – Digital × Resilience × Human Well-being," held at our university in May 2023. This concept respects value (価値), veritas (truth/真理), and virtue (美徳), leverages virtual (digital/デジタル), and embodies verve (energy/力強さ), vigor (vitality/活力), and vividness (vibrancy/鮮やかさ) to encourage venture (exploration/冒険). It envisions an inclusive and diverse environment where people of all generations can engage in meaningful and dignified work.
At our university, we aim to realize this VA by fostering trust and relationships between young organizational talents and executive leadership. Anchored in the philosophy of "unchanging principles and adapting trends" (fueki ryuko), we prioritize "human strength" as a foundation for ensuring psychological safety within the organization (the "unchanging"), while also establishing systems that bridge this foundation to create new value (the "adapting"). This involves building a sustainable and healthy organizational framework that facilitates the sharing of information and challenges, proposes initiatives, and promotes open discussions.
Additionally, as an external VA initiative aimed at regional development, Okayama is working to establish a sustainable regional healthcare system under the framework of the "Digital Rural Health Special Zone." This involves collaborations between regional hospitals and university hospitals to secure medical personnel. Efforts are being made to drive digital innovation, enhance work engagement, and achieve decent work, including reforms to physicians' working styles.
For more details, please visit:
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/news/news_id12119.html
This roundtable with will reflect about the future of OSH, from the perspective of large companies and leading occupational accident insurance companies from Latin America.
Senior managers will analyse and discuss policies, programmes and new approaches involving artificial intelligence and the extensive use of data analysis in OSH.
Climate change poses a multidimensional challenge to occupational safety and health (OSH). Although numerous health effects in workers have been linked to climate change, a pressing concern has emerged from the rise in temperatures. Increasing temperature exposures elevates the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries, making heat stress more common in duration, frequency, and intensity. Longer periods of severe heat and exposure to solar UV radiation can impact worker health, not only physically but also mentally. This will reduce the total number of working hours and productivity, affecting the economic and social well-being of workers, their families, and communities.
While many workers will be affected by increased heat exposure and extreme weather events, outdoor workers are likely to face the most significant impacts. This includes agricultural workers, who labour long hours at high levels of exertion outdoors, where they are especially susceptible to climatic conditions. Increasingly, these workers are also labouring indoors, cultivating crops inside greenhouses which are characterized by similar elevated temperature and humidity exposures, and are more likely to employ women. To ensure a safe and healthy environment for all workers, OSH policies and the work of International Labour Organization (ILO) globally and nationally represents an integral dimension of a just transition.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of occupational health and safety, the Asia Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organisation (APOSHO) presents a pivotal session focusing on "Empowering Workplaces: A People-Centered Strategy for Health and Wellbeing." This session aims to explore innovative strategies and successful implementations by APOSHO member organisations, highlighting their commitment to fostering environments where employee health and wellbeing are prioritised.
The session will feature distinguished APOSHO members, including representatives from the Asia and Oceania regions and beyond. Through a moderated discussion forum, each member will share their approaches and experiences in integrating people-centered practices within their workplaces. They will provide valuable insights on employee engagement, innovative technologies, community collaboration, and effective policies. The session will also offer opportunities for members to discuss related topics and allow participants to engage directly with the speakers, ask questions, and exchange ideas, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.
A world with increasing and interrelated crises (pandemics, wars, climate change, natural disasters, increasing social inequality and digital violence) poses new challenges for risk prevention and risk education.
The world-leading Japanese model of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the approach to promoting disaster resilience through education provide answers to these questions. However, what are the similarities and differences between the Japanese model and the European approach to developing a culture of safety through education and in educational institutions? And how do children and young people in particular perceive the current global crises? How do they deal with crises, how do they recover from crises and how can they and their institutions prepare for future crisis experiences?
The event offers an open forum where we would like to discuss these questions with you. A video competition will take place before the event to enable children and young people to participate more actively.
Since 2019, the traditional role of the Occupational, Safety and Health (OSH) professional has steadily changed, now regularly incorporating the environment as one of its pillars, meaning the role focus regularly becomes that of an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) professional.
In such a changing world of work, where we face so many challenges, it is necessary to continuously update our experience, competencies and responsibilities to create safe and healthy work environments. Currently, it can be said that digitalisation and sustainability are the greatest challenges we face as EHS professionals, alongside the changes in the world of work and the policies and guidelines that are being introduced or are ever evolving, affecting workplaces, societies and our environment.
By the year 2025, at the European level, several Directives will be in force that will have a profound impact on the EHS profession and its further development:
This session will address these aspects and challenges from the perspective of professional EHS.
Vision Zero is a powerful strategy aimed at enhancing safety, health, and well-being at work. The Finnish Vision Zero Forum has been active for over 20 years, with its members implementing various best practices in their workplaces. This session will highlight practical approaches and challenges that have been successfully addressed in different workplaces and actors.
The speakers will cover topics such as integrating occupational health care and safety at construction sites, addressing safety considerations for foreign labor forces, and utilizing a positive approach to safety work in practice. Hear from HSE leaders as they share their strategies, and the benefits achieved for their work communities and enterprises.
The session will include presentations from the speakers followed by a panel discussion, providing a deep dive into the best practices for dissemination and achieving Vision Zero goals.
The symposium will explore several key topics:
Innovative Training and Protection for Youth Workers: As young workers often enter the workforce with limited experience and awareness of workplace hazards, we will discuss best practices and new approaches for ensuring they receive the necessary training and protection to work safely. This will include strategies for strengthening enforcement of OSH regulations to address the specific vulnerabilities of youth employment.
Addressing Vulnerabilities in Youth Employment: Youth are disproportionately represented in precarious work, temporary contracts, and informal employment. We aim to highlight initiatives that reduce these risks, ensuring that young workers are adequately protected and equipped to thrive in safe and healthy work environments.
Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Workplace: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a persistent issue in many workplaces, particularly in industries where women are underrepresented or where power imbalances exist. We will explore effective prevention measures, as well as the policies and mechanisms needed to ensure zero tolerance for GBV at work.
Detecting and Preventing Mental Health Conditions: With the increasing awareness of mental health issues affecting workers, we will focus on identifying early signs of mental health conditions, understanding their workplace triggers, and discussing ways to build supportive environments that prioritize psychological well-being alongside physical safety.
Mental health significantly impacts both businesses and their employees, influencing overall wellbeing, job performance, and productivity. A negative work environment can lead to physical and mental health issues, increased absenteeism, and lost productivity. Conversely, workplaces that prioritize mental health and support individuals with mental disorders are more likely to experience reduced absenteeism, heightened productivity, and related economic benefits. Thus, there are compelling human and economic reasons for businesses to enhance mental health programs and foster a culture of safety, health, and wellbeing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified existing mental health challenges while also raising awareness about the importance of mental wellbeing in the workplace. This situation presents strong incentives to redesign work organization, increase flexibility, and provide support through mental health and wellbeing programs.
Recently, several key initiatives have been launched by organizations such as the ILO, WHO, ISSA, and EU-OSHA to offer guidance and practical tools for managing mental health and wellbeing within companies. The Vision Zero Wellbeing Guide, developed by ISSA, will be presented alongside practical business cases of successfully managing mental health and wellbeing shared by senior SHE managers from renowned enterprises.
Vision Zero for Labour Inspection is about transforming the role of labour inspectors from mere enforcers to partners in creating safe and sustainable workplaces.
Implementing Vision Zero for Labour Inspection would require significant investment in training, technology, and institutional capacity. But the returns - in terms of lives saved, injuries prevented, and sustainable business practices promoted - would far outweigh the costs.
As we pursue Vision Zero, we must acknowledge that it's a journey, not a destination. It requires sustained commitment, continuous learning, and a willingness to challenge our assumptions.
We must also recognise that Vision Zero is not just about preventing negatives; it's about promoting positives. It's about creating workplaces where people can thrive, communities can prosper, and businesses can succeed sustainably.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. Yet progress towards SDG 8 is not advancing at the speed or scale required and we are still seeing millions of workers suffering from injuries, ill health and disease caused or made worse by their work, with 2.78 million fatal injuries every year. The ILO’s Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health 2024-2030 is a strategy for action, which includes the need to strengthen investment in occupational safety and health. Whereby sustainable financing at the national, sectoral and workplace level is essential if we want to reduce occupational fatalities, injuries and diseases globally.
The financial sector – specifically the institutional investor capital community, philanthropy investment, private finance from multilateral development banks (MDBs) and development finance institutions (DFIs) - play a crucial role to catalyse finance to achieve SDGs. We know that instruments of this kind are already in existence and contributing to sustainable development – however, they are not necessarily effectively integrated to close the financing gap when it comes to combating social issues. These social issues includes occupational safety and health (as well as labour protection and modern slavery in supply chains).
This leads to so many questions. For example, what is sustainable funding? What is needed at a national level to provide an inclusive and coordinated sustainable financing model for occupational safety and health? How can we mobilise private finance, philanthropy investment and institutional investor capital to lead to a positive economic structural transformation? What models are already available and how can they be used to ensure impact at the workplace level and importantly, ensure a positive impact on individual workers? How do we shift economic investment for social-aligned development in middle- and low-income countries and hard-to-reach sectors of the global economy?
This session will start the dialogue on sustainable funding and investment programs that are needed at the national level for occupational health and safety. It will also discuss how the right model can have an influence and impact at a workplace level, worker level, and within hard-to-reach sectors. Each panellist will bring their own perspectives and expertise to talk about the system approach that is needed.
In today’s fast-paced work environment, prioritising mental health and wellbeing is crucial for fostering a resilient and productive workforce. Alongside this, a growing body of evidence sheds light on how poor workplace mental health is associated with costly organisational issues, including attrition, absenteeism, lower engagement, decreased productivity and increased insurance costs.
This session will explore innovative strategies and best practices for promoting mental health in the workplace, highlighting the critical role of organisational culture, leadership and employee engagement to better understand, prevent and manage the impacts that mental health issues have on the working environment and on workers’ health and wellbeing .
With a focus on the latest research on mental health trends affecting workers, including the impact of stress, burnout, and social isolation. We will discuss effective interventions and examine case studies from organisations that have successfully integrated mental health initiatives into their workplace policies, showcasing measurable outcomes in employee satisfaction and productivity.
All around the world, workers face an uncertain future, with advances in technology, climate change, new industries and adaptations to ways of working potentially posing risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing.
This session will focus on the different challenges that workplaces and workers will contend with, alongside the opportunities these changes may bring, and how the principles of Vision Zero can be adapted to educate and train.
Hear how the integration and management of Vision Zero has made an impact across countries and businesses with a focus on successful deployment of the principles to influence changes in attitudes, processes and outcomes.
All around the globe humans are longing for a good life for themselves and their families. Modern technology opens new opportunities for a better life, but in a connected world, the global economy and growing living standards depend on sustainable supply chains, which begin either in agriculture or in mining.
As a logical consequence, mining all over the world must go ahead and demonstrate its responsibility for humans and for nature – meaning safety, health, wellbeing for humans and sustainable care for nature begin in mines and extraction of natural resources all around the world. However, the actual situation all over the world shows a big variety: advanced multinational mining corporations are setting good examples already, but there are still human suffering and environmental disasters caused by mining activities and fatalities and fatal disease rates in mining are far above the average for other sectors of the economy.
To improve this situation and to promote a new mindset of responsibility and care, the VISION ZERO Strategy and its fundamental 7 Golden Rules have first been developed for the mining sector and became meanwhile the new prevention culture strategy beyond compliance for all workplaces in any sector.The session will demonstrate exemplary practical solutions to implement a new prevention culture at the various work situations in mining and to promote change in leadership and sustainable care to protect lives and health of the miners.
Healthcare professionals are the backbone of our healthcare system, working tirelessly to care for patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. As the demand for specialised care increases and the healthcare landscape becomes more complex, these professionals face critical challenges.
Additionally, the lack of healthcare workers is becoming a pressing issue in many parts of the world, including Japan and several countries in the European Union, where aging populations and rising care needs have intensified the demand for healthcare professionals.
These current challenges aggravate the fact that healthcare workers are exposed to significant risks in their profession, particularly in the areas of infections, musculoskeletal injuries, and high levels of mental stress. The pressure on healthcare workers is increasing and it's vital that we create safer, healthier workplaces to protect those who provide essential care.
This session headed by the ISSA Section for Occupational Risks in Health Services pinpoints stressors and provides practical tips on how to adjust prevention strategies.
This session explores the latest advancements in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) technologies that are transforming workplace safety standards worldwide.
As industries evolve, new tools and systems—such as wearable devices, AI-driven monitoring, and IoT integration—are helping to prevent accidents, enhance hazard detection, and support safer work environments.
This session delves into the cutting-edge innovations reshaping OSH practices, ensuring that future workplaces prioritize both productivity and the well-being of employees.
Due to global warming, workers all around the world are increasingly exposed to heat stress hazards. The session aims to share some system- wise monitoring and intervention alternatives as well as to tell a story on how to cherry-pick the optimal PPEs for heat stroke prevention.
CCVDs (cardiovascular/ cerebrovascular diseases) and MSDs are among the top health problem facing world-wide employees. This session also brings about some latest solutions in this area, including:
Africa with a fast-growing population of very youthful demography with over 484 million employed population is craving for decent work processes, employment patterns and types that cater for both the health and wellbeing of employees. This seems far-fetched when measured with current realities and the slow pace of Occupational Safety, Health and Wellbeing development across the continent. Health and Safety have been seen to work together for the past 3 decades but the new entrant of “Wellbeing” seems totally new to employees, employers and even policy makers at both regional and country levels. This has adversely affected the development of very positive policies capable of improving the overall health and wellbeing of employees and employers alike.
Africa requires an urgent call for leadership of governments across all African States towards discussing the future of health, safety and wellbeing of employees working across various workplaces in Africa. There is the urgent need to demystify health and wellbeing while bringing forth a clearer understanding that could foster healthy engagement between governments, employers and trade unions. Also linking the health and wellbeing of employees to global technological advancement and market competitiveness which have very strong potentials to employees’ health outcomes at retirement.
What is the current state of wellbeing in African workplaces? How can this be supported by new knowledge and contextual studies? What role should policies be playing towards reshaping the current employees’ landscape? What are the future costs if urgent steps are not taken? These and many of such questions are clearly calling for a regional effort towards providing convincing answers and sustainable solutions.
Ensuring safety and health of workers is a substantial element of work. Vision Zero, that serves as the basis for accident prevention and health promotion activities at work, was established based on several important principles. Among them, the philosophy recognizes that humans make mistakes. Even so Vision Zero insists that mistakes must never cost lives (Ehnes, Vision Zero -The Global Prevention Strategy for Life, ISSA 2019) and certainly not derangement from returning to work.
Therefore, it is important for health providers or social security to enable smooth medical treatment, disability management and rehabilitation. The flow of treatment and rehabilitation does not naturally occur, in fact requires a proactive and planned disability management process.
The session aims to highlight this important aspect of occupational safety and health, where systematic disability management may overcome an unwanted outcome following a workplace injury. The speakers will share their experience in managing and enhancing return to work programs, disability management and rehabilitation for injured workers.