II HEMISPHERIC WORKSHOP II HEMISPHERIC WORKSHOP ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

AND SAFETYAND SAFETY

““The challenges of Occupational Health and Safety in The challenges of Occupational Health and Safety in relation to the IV Summit of the Americas Mandates relation to the IV Summit of the Americas Mandates

and Sub-regional Experiences”and Sub-regional Experiences”

“A Successful Experience on OHS

from the Labor Union Perspective”

PERMANENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE TRADE UNION TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (COSATE)

San Salvador, El Salvador CA, May 16th and 17th, 2006

Labor unions as Labor unions as a prevention means a prevention means

“We must recognize that the frequent tragic stories of workers’ health and illnesses, have been fundamental in underpinning important improvements in the legislations… Since the Industrial Revolution and still today, the organized labor sector has been the main factor for the majority of the improvements achieved in occupational health and safety matters”

Herbert K. Abrams, 2001. “Corta Historia de la Salud Laboral. Diario de Políticas de Salud Públicas, Vol. 22 Nº 1

The Experience on OHS of the Cement, The Experience on OHS of the Cement, Plaster and other Union IndustriesPlaster and other Union Industries

AFFILIATION: Industry’s most representative trade union in the Country.

Cement Plants: 4800 Workers.

Concrete Mixers: 5000 Workers.

Lime plants: 2300 Workers.

Plasters: 900 Workers.

LABOR RELATION

Medium and small-sized enterprises that produce plaster and lime

The vast majority of cement and concrete enterprises implement a Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

Occupational Health and Safety Occupational Health and Safety managementmanagement

Currently, product quality is sought in order to have Currently, product quality is sought in order to have greater competitively in the markets.greater competitively in the markets.

Mainly in developed countries, and in multinational Mainly in developed countries, and in multinational and big enterprises in developing countries.and big enterprises in developing countries.

This implies improving the production processes This implies improving the production processes and the incorporation of new technologies.and the incorporation of new technologies.

This result in the appearance of new risks at work, This result in the appearance of new risks at work, as well as of new forms to manage them.as well as of new forms to manage them.

The new legislation that rules the markets allows The new legislation that rules the markets allows for some demands from buying countries to for some demands from buying countries to exporting countries, such as: the respect for labor exporting countries, such as: the respect for labor rights and the improvement of labor conditions.rights and the improvement of labor conditions.

Occupational Health and Safety Management Occupational Health and Safety Management and employers' participationand employers' participation

As a consequence, voluntary good practices As a consequence, voluntary good practices initiatives are being established by big firms; most initiatives are being established by big firms; most of them in the framework of the so called Corporate of them in the framework of the so called Corporate Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

There is a change of attitude towards the There is a change of attitude towards the construction of a “culture” of health and safety in construction of a “culture” of health and safety in the workplace through adequate prevention the workplace through adequate prevention management, similar to the existence of management, similar to the existence of management systems on product quality (ISO management systems on product quality (ISO 9000) and environmental management (ISO 14000)9000) and environmental management (ISO 14000)

Propelling the establishment of Occupational Health Propelling the establishment of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systemsand Safety Management Systems

OHS-MS Achievements and challenges OHS-MS Achievements and challenges from the trade union’s perspectivefrom the trade union’s perspective

Health and safety higher Health and safety higher standardsstandards

Priority at prevention Priority at prevention activitiesactivities

Constant trainingConstant training Bilateral dialogueBilateral dialogue Participation instancesParticipation instances Inclusion in OHS Inclusion in OHS

competenciescompetencies Compensations for Compensations for

improvement proposalsimprovement proposals Rehabilitation programsRehabilitation programs

Subcontracts, the increase Subcontracts, the increase of precarious work and of precarious work and workplace injuriesworkplace injuries

New working systems and New working systems and materialsmaterials

To increase their capacity To increase their capacity to generate alternativesto generate alternatives

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics The incorporation of our The incorporation of our

union colleagues from the union colleagues from the medium and small-sized medium and small-sized enterprises sector into this enterprises sector into this cultural change in the cultural change in the cement selection.cement selection.

ACHIEVEMENTS CHALLENGES

This contributes to the reduction of risks of This contributes to the reduction of risks of workplace injuries and illnesses; consequently workplace injuries and illnesses; consequently there is also a reduction on direct and indirect there is also a reduction on direct and indirect costs, favoring workers as well as costs, favoring workers as well as productivity.productivity.

Nonetheless, workers’ participation in these Nonetheless, workers’ participation in these spheres throughout our region is not yet very spheres throughout our region is not yet very significant.significant.

It can already be seen especially in big It can already be seen especially in big export-oriented firmsexport-oriented firms

And most of the workers in our region are And most of the workers in our region are working on small and medium enterprises, or working on small and medium enterprises, or in the informal economy sectorin the informal economy sector

Occupational Health and Safety Occupational Health and Safety Management and workers' participationManagement and workers' participation

Successful Experience in the promotion of Successful Experience in the promotion of OHS within the UnionsOHS within the Unions

Based on a national diagnostic on health and safety systems developed by the ILO in Mexico in 2002.

The ILO proposed to COPARMEX and CTM the development of a training program for instructors on OHS

Seeking the institutional strengthening of social actors on OHS

Proposal accepted and supported by CTM

Characteristics on the ILO-CTM Characteristics on the ILO-CTM collaboration in the Project for Capacity collaboration in the Project for Capacity

Strengthening on OHSStrengthening on OHS

A joint ILO – CTM effortA joint ILO – CTM effort It would cover all of MexicoIt would cover all of Mexico With union leaders of all sectorsWith union leaders of all sectors Inviting fraternal unions and Inviting fraternal unions and Business representativesBusiness representatives Aiming at strengthening the dialogue of Aiming at strengthening the dialogue of

the union on OHS, based on its multiplier the union on OHS, based on its multiplier effecteffect

With the main objective of preventing With the main objective of preventing injuries and illnesses at the workplaceinjuries and illnesses at the workplace

Three regional seminars on OHS were convoked throughout 2003 within the first stage of the project

Dividing participants by geographic regions: North, Center and South of Mexico

67 participants attended these seminars Representing different states and economic

sectors of our country Some of which were working on OHS

management systems in their firms Most of them being members of CTM

organizations As well as representatives from other

unions, workers organizations and governmental agencies

First stageFirst stage

Second StageSecond Stage

A selection was done in A selection was done in 2004, and 24 participants 2004, and 24 participants were convoked, who were were convoked, who were trained as instructors on trained as instructors on OHS in two seminars on OHS in two seminars on training and another one on training and another one on evaluation and follow-up.evaluation and follow-up.

A broad training on OHS A broad training on OHS was provided to the was provided to the participants, who were also participants, who were also provided with provided with methodological tools and methodological tools and educational techniques and educational techniques and materials on OHS.materials on OHS.

Main accomplishmentsMain accomplishments

The design of a The design of a manual, developed by manual, developed by specialists, instructors specialists, instructors and with inputs from and with inputs from the participants.the participants.

The commitment of The commitment of replicating within their replicating within their respective respective organizations the organizations the knowledge acquired knowledge acquired during their training.during their training.

Third StageThird Stage

It started in 2005, with the implementation It started in 2005, with the implementation of various courses on OHSof various courses on OHS

Organizing 14 events where instructors Organizing 14 events where instructors develop their practicumdevelop their practicum

Attended mainly by members of the Attended mainly by members of the Commissions on Health and Safety in the Commissions on Health and Safety in the firms located on the regions where the firms located on the regions where the courses are developed.courses are developed.

Comprised by groups where, in some of Comprised by groups where, in some of them, workers representatives are them, workers representatives are accompanied by employers and some accompanied by employers and some governmental officers.governmental officers.

Positive OutcomesPositive Outcomes Training of 24 union members as Training of 24 union members as

instructors on OHS, 17 men and 7 womeninstructors on OHS, 17 men and 7 women Training of 691 leaders and delegates on Training of 691 leaders and delegates on

OHS at a basic levelOHS at a basic level Who represent a universe of more than Who represent a universe of more than

100,000 workers in their working centers100,000 workers in their working centers From 564 businesses of various big, From 564 businesses of various big,

medium and small industriesmedium and small industries The drafting of a manual on OHS, based The drafting of a manual on OHS, based

upon the participants’ contributions and upon the participants’ contributions and needs needs

Promotion of good practices in Promotion of good practices in OHS OHS

As immediate outcome of the As immediate outcome of the activities developed, the activities developed, the following was accomplished:following was accomplished:

The creation of a Bipartite The creation of a Bipartite Committee on ergonomic Committee on ergonomic issues between a Union from issues between a Union from the the MaquilaMaquila sector which has sector which has more than 30,000 members more than 30,000 members and a group of employers. and a group of employers. They meet on a regular basis They meet on a regular basis to analyze this specific to analyze this specific problem in the city of problem in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, MexicoMexico

Problems

In the production line, by arms, wrists and finger pains

Cause

Inadequate tools, guns, heavy wheels, excessive torke, wrong design of the working space

Actions to be taken

The tools provider, the chief of design of the factory space and the Union were called by the Commission on Health and Safety. The decision made was to re-design the working space, change the tools for lighter ones and improve the use of space and time.

Results

There was a reduction on the number of visits to the medical service, as 15 worker were affected in each shift

Contribution was also provided to the solution of an ergonomic problem Contribution was also provided to the solution of an ergonomic problem in one of the most important sections of the Union from the in one of the most important sections of the Union from the metallurgical industry, in Celaya, Guanajuato through joint proposals.metallurgical industry, in Celaya, Guanajuato through joint proposals.

Conclusions on OHS from the Conclusions on OHS from the Union’s perspectiveUnion’s perspective

For the Union, efforts towards OHS issues For the Union, efforts towards OHS issues and the progress on decent work in our and the progress on decent work in our continent are, at present time, of the continent are, at present time, of the outmost priority.outmost priority.

The contribution of unions on the efforts The contribution of unions on the efforts on OHS are fundamental and irreplaceableon OHS are fundamental and irreplaceable

Training and education within the union on Training and education within the union on OHS are indispensable in order to improve OHS are indispensable in order to improve communication and strengthen social communication and strengthen social dialoguedialogue

At present time, collaboration and At present time, collaboration and cooperation with national and international cooperation with national and international organizations and institutions on issues organizations and institutions on issues related to OHS play a key strategic role.related to OHS play a key strategic role.

Conclusions on OHS Management Conclusions on OHS Management from the Union’s perspectivefrom the Union’s perspective

Even though management systems on OHS are Even though management systems on OHS are implemented in most cases by big export-implemented in most cases by big export-oriented firms throughout our region, it is oriented firms throughout our region, it is important to highlight the successful experiences important to highlight the successful experiences and adjust them to the reality of most of our and adjust them to the reality of most of our working spaces.working spaces.

It is indispensable to guarantee the participation It is indispensable to guarantee the participation of workers and their organizations, in order to of workers and their organizations, in order to ensure the success of the Management Systems ensure the success of the Management Systems on OHSon OHS

Addressing issues of OHS and caring for the Addressing issues of OHS and caring for the environment guarantee the achievement of environment guarantee the achievement of socially sustainable, competitive and productive socially sustainable, competitive and productive firms.firms.

Thank youThank you

Vicente Juárez RiveraVicente Juárez Rivera