World Day for Health and Safety at Work is celebrated every year on 28 April.

Established in 2003 by the ILO (International Labour Organisation) as the UN agency dealing with workers' rights, social conditions and institutional dialogue.

The Occupational Health and Safety Day aims to draw attention to work-related issues, focus on prevention in the workplace and occupational diseases, and spread the culture of safety.

The figures do not leave one calm: in 2019, deaths at work increased compared to the previous year. In 2020, a year marked by the Coronavirus pandemic, occupational and commuting accident reports, thanks to the lockdown and smart working, obviously decreased, but deaths, also related to the virus, increased by 16.6%.

These numbers make one think and show how the safety culture, aimed at protecting workers, is still not as widespread as it should be.

Covid-19 has done nothing but further expose workers to risks that could and, above all, should in every way be avoided. The cost, in terms of human lives, is too high: companies and workers must become aware that occupational safety and health is a fundamental principle.

Taking account of social and demographic changes, organising work in a more flexible way, investing in safety, raising awareness of the use of suitable equipment and correct use of protective equipment are the objectives to be set.

It is essential to ensure that the numbers of deaths and occupational diseases are drastically reduced (there are around 6,500 reports of occupational diseases and over 1,000 fatal accidents at work every day - data  ILO).

THE SECURITY WE CARE ABOUT

WHY HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT?

Musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common occupational diseases in Europe: 90 per cent of people suffer from back pain, repetitive strain injuries and chronic diseases.

Moving heavy loads, repetitive movements at a fast pace, unfavourable environmental conditions such as cold and stress are the main causes of disorders. To completely eliminate the risks associated with load handling, all manual lifting and/or transport operations should be replaced by mechanical and automated operations.

Workers must be equipped with suitable lifting systems, transport and lifting trolleys, mechanical equipment.

Where this condition is not applicable, it is essential during Manual Handling of Loads (MHL) to maintain correct behaviour that reduces risks and maintains a constant level of safety. Correct behaviour is defined as:

• Ideal posture: upright torso, symmetrical not rotated, correct distance between the object to be handled and the operator, vertical displacement not exceeding the shoulder, firm and secure grip on the object

• Maximum weight limit: set at 25 kg for workers, 15 kg for female workers.

• Limitation in duration: it is intended only as an occasional activity.

WHY USE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?

INAIL data show that every year accidents, often fatal, are attributable to activities that were risky, but during which the protective equipment required by law was not properly used.

Work at heights as well as work in confined spaces, construction sites, activities in the metal mechanical or chemical industry, agricultural activities, waste disposal and road maintenance require special attention: none of these activities can be carried out without the use of appropriate personal and collective protective equipment. In road maintenance operations, in areas with high traffic density, rapid intervention, which is only possible with appropriate tools, is crucial in terms of safety.

On fixed or mobile construction sites, failure to use hard hats, high-visibility waistcoats, barriers and proper signage can prove fatal.

The use of certified and safe ladders, scaffolding and, where possible, elevating work platforms and material lifting systems, significantly reduce the risks of falling from height.

Adequate harnessing and restraint systems, which are also indispensable in confined spaces, are also essential in the event of a fall or recovery.

Gas detection, air purification and respiratory protection devices save workers in confined environments, wherever oxygen is lacking or a concentration of explosive or toxic substances is present.

Protecting the respiratory tract with masks, the eyes with visors and goggles, and the skin with gloves has always been customary for workers who may come into contact with chemical and biological agents.

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, these protections have also become indispensable for employees in the service sector: masks, face shields, gloves and divider panels are now part of the necessary safety equipment for all service workers and those in contact with the public.