A new international standard for occupational health and safety got a big vote of confidence this week, taking it another step closer to publication. The latest draft of ISO 45001 got more than 75 percent approval by those involved in its development.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder: The news is punctuated periodically by intense coverage of dramatic, heartbreaking stories that capture global attention: health workers infected while caring for patients with deadly diseases, trapped miners who may or may not resurface, factory building collapses, plane crashes, explosions of oil rigs and nuclear accidents.

Voting has begun on draft ISO 45001, which sets the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system. ISO 45001 is currently at the committee draft stage of development, the first consultation phase.

Millions of people worldwide die each year as a result of work-related accidents and illnesses. But experts at a congress in Frankfurt think that number can be reduced to zero.

In addition Workers Memorial Day in many countries and Workers’ Day of Mourning in Canada, April 28^th has also been designated World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The focus this year is on the prevention of occupational diseases.