Read this article in:
25 April, 2000The outcome of the ISO ballot has removed the threat to occupational health and safety standards.
GENEVA: The IMF has just learned that the attempt by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to undermine the International Labour Organisation's role in respect of occupational health and safety has failed -- by three votes.
A plan had been put forth to establish a Technical Management Board to develop an ISO international standard for occupation health and safety. This proposal was balloted by the 82 national ISO agencies and, had it been adopted, would have significantly undermined the ILO's role in respect of occupational health and safety, as well as the trade unions' involvement in establishing appropriate standards. Thus, the ILO remains the structure which is accepted as the most effective organisation in determining appropriate international standards.
More details will be forthcoming, but for now the IMF wishes to thank all its affiliated organisations which lobbied their national federations or confederations, relevant government authorities and national ISO agency. Due in large part to these efforts, the situation was turned around.
A similar ISO proposal was rejected in 1996.
A plan had been put forth to establish a Technical Management Board to develop an ISO international standard for occupation health and safety. This proposal was balloted by the 82 national ISO agencies and, had it been adopted, would have significantly undermined the ILO's role in respect of occupational health and safety, as well as the trade unions' involvement in establishing appropriate standards. Thus, the ILO remains the structure which is accepted as the most effective organisation in determining appropriate international standards.
More details will be forthcoming, but for now the IMF wishes to thank all its affiliated organisations which lobbied their national federations or confederations, relevant government authorities and national ISO agency. Due in large part to these efforts, the situation was turned around.
A similar ISO proposal was rejected in 1996.