The Ratification Status of ILO Conventions Related to Occupational Safety and Health and Its Relationship with Reported Occupational Fatality Rates

Donald J Wilson; Ken Takahashi; Sonoko Sakuragi; Masako Yoshino; Tsutomu Hoshuyama; Teppei Imai; Jukka Takala

doi:10.1539/joh.49.72

Occupational Health/Safety in the World

The Ratification Status of ILO Conventions Related to Occupational Safety and Health and Its Relationship with Reported Occupational Fatality Rates

Donald J Wilson, Ken Takahashi, Sonoko Sakuragi, Masako Yoshino, Tsutomu Hoshuyama, Teppei Imai, Jukka Takala

Author information

Donald J Wilson
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Ken Takahashi
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Sonoko Sakuragi
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kyoto Industrial Health Association
Masako Yoshino
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Kin-ikyo Chuo Hospital, Sapporo
Tsutomu Hoshuyama
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Teppei Imai
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences (IIES), University of Occupational and Environmental Health
Jukka Takala
InFocus Programme Safework, International Labour Office

Keywords: ILO conventions, Occupational safety and health, Convention ratification, Occupational fatality rate

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2007 Volume 49 Issue 1 Pages 72-79

DOI https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.49.72

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the ratification status of occupational safety and health (OSH)-related ILO conventions and reported occupational fatality rates of ILO member countries, while controlling for possible confounding factors. ILO member states were divided into 4 levels of income status, based on the gross national income per capita. Seventeen conventions designated as OSH-related were examined. Reported country occupational fatality rates were compared according to the ratification status of these 17 conventions and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between the fatality rates, ratification status, income level and length of ILO membership. Fatality rates were inversely and significantly related to income levels. In general, non-ratifying countries had higher work-related fatality rates than ratifying countries. A statistical model for identifying predictors of fatal injury rates showed that a larger number of conventions ratified was significantly associated with lower fatality rates. The fact that non-ratifying countries generally have higher fatality rates than ratifying ones supports the notion that all countries should promote ratification of ILO conventions aimed at improving OSH conditions.

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