World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Analysis of good practices in prevention

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Analysis of good practices in prevention

In connection with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April 2024, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) has published an analysis of good practices in prevention, building on ISSA Guidelines and Vision Zero. 

The ISSA analysis, which focusses on initiatives developed by European social security institutions, stresses that many institutions have successfully implemented prevention practices and programmes based on the ISSA Guidelines on Prevention of Occupational Risks and the Vision Zero strategy developed by ISSA, achieving positive results in terms of reducing work-related accidents and diseases.

The following Vision Zero initiatives are analysed:

  • The Finnish Institute for Occupational Health (FIOH) for its Vision Zero Forum, composed of regional prevention networks that foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
  • The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Trade and Logistics Industry (BGHW) implemented targeted prevention measures aligned with the 7 Golden Rules.
  • The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) collaborated with the Labour & Human Resource Department of the Government of Punjab, Pakistan and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), to establish a prevention culture strategy in the Punjab.
  • The Accident Insurance Association of Luxembourg (AAA) developed with partners a national Vision Zero strategy to reduce work-related accidents and occupational diseases as well as commuting accidents.
  • The Polish Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) organized a short-film competition to promote safety education among young people in agriculture, integrating Vision Zero principles into creative narratives.
  • The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in the United Kingdom addressed chronic workplace harm in emerging economies through a strategy that included creating documentaries for awareness raising.
  • The National Sickness Insurance Fund (CNAM) of France developed a programme to address the prevalent issue of chemical risks in the workplace.
  • The National Sickness Insurance Fund (CNAM) of France also launched a sectoral programme for construction that prioritizes early intervention and risk management in construction projects.
  • The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the building trade (BG Bau) took a pioneering role in utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in social insurance to address workplace safety and health risks.

The projects and their results are described in the ISSA analysis, as well as the role of the 7 Golden Rules and the ISSA Guidelines on Prevention of Occupational Risks, for their implementation. While some of the Vision Zero started before the 7 Golden Rules were developed, they are all aligned with similar objectives.