Chemical Safety and the Environment
Workers around the world are disproportionally exposed to chemicals across almost all sectors, with more than 1 billion workers exposed to hazardous substances, including pollutants, dusts, vapours and fumes, each year.
An estimated 1 million of these workers lose their lives each year due to exposure to hazardous chemicals. For those who do not lose their lives, they may face non-fatal injuries and diseases resulting in disability, debilitating chronic disease and other health impacts. All of these deaths, injuries and illnesses are entirely preventable.
Major industrial accidents, such as the 2020 Beirut Port Explosion of ammonium nitrate, show the urgency of this global health crisis.
Publications
Impacts for occupational safety and health
Chemical exposures in mining
Hazardous exposures to plastics in the world of work
Exposure to lead in the world of work: Impacts for occupational safety and health
Conventions, Recommendations and other Instruments
Training Courses
The International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-Turin) provides a variety of free and paid courses, both online and in person, related to chemical safety and health.
Training Materials on Chemical Safety
Labelling and Safety Data Sheets
International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC)
The International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) are data sheets intended to provide essential safety and health information on chemicals in a clear and concise way. The primary aim of the Cards is to promote the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. The main target users are workers and those responsible for occupational safety and health. To date, more than 1,700 Cards are available and hosted in the ICSCs database.
The Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
ILO Collaboration on Chemicals
Inter-organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals
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For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste
Global Framework on Chemicals
The ILO and Chemical industries - Sectoral Policies
The ILO Sectoral Policies Department (SECTOR) further works on policies in chemical industry