Forum 1: Chemicals, health, and occupational safety
While many chemicals provide substantial benefits to society, some pose a threat to human health including in the workplace. In this session, the linkages between chemicals and health are discussed, the need for enhanced action is outlined, and options for strengthened collaboration between the environmental, health and labor sector are explored. Key questions for forum 1 include:
- How can the sound management of chemicals and waste contribute to achieving SDG 3 on health and SDG 8 on decent work?
- What needs to be done in order to integrate the sound management of chemicals into health- and labor-related discussions?
- How could labour issues be dealt with more prominently in SAICM and a beyond 2020 framework?
With the Chemicals Roadmap, the WHO has outlined its enhanced engagement in SAICM towards the 2020 goal and beyond. The ILO likewise works at the intersection on chemicals and health through its programme on occupational safety and health. And ahead of the upcoming Environment Assembly, UN Environment has highlighted negative health effects of chemicals throughout its recently published draft report “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet”. Many people in the chemical industry and elsewhere are dealing with hazardous substances, including farm workers who get in regular contact with pesticides as well as people working in often informal recycling operations. Additional questions to be discussed may include:
- How can a framework beyond 2020 ensure that everyone is able to live and work in a non-toxic environment?
- How could the application of the WHO Chemicals Road Map be supported through SAICM and the beyond 2020 framework?
- What can an enhanced framework contribute to foster the implementation – and possibly even increase the number of ratifications – of relevant ILO Conventions?
- Could the envisioned “Coalition for a Pollution-Free Planet”, to be launched at the UN Environment Assembly in December, become a platform to deal with chemical pollution as well?