The Importance of Occupational Health and Safety in Sri Lanka: A Review

Abstract

To survive in the complex market environment today, business organizations should utilize their human resources in an efficient and effective manner. For that, management of occupational health and safety is very important. Human resource is a source of gaining competitive advantage over its competitors and therefore it is very important for any organization to manage its human resource in a productive way. Over the last few decades, management of occupational health and safety has become as a very important aspect of Human Resource Management. According to the statistics of International Labor Organization (ILO), millions of employees around the world suffer injuries, subject to various diseases and even to death due to exposure to health and safety hazards at the work places. ILO, in partnership with many organizations has been working in its member countries including Sri Lanka to raise the awareness of how to prevent from occupational accidents and diseases and to promote safety culture within the workforce. Also, Ministry of Labor and Trade Union Relations of Sri Lanka is working with relevant stake holders to formulate new laws and regulations to ensure the further protection of the workforce of Sri Lanka from occupational health and safety hazards. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health was established in 2005 under the Ministry of Labor and Labor Relations, with a view to strengthen the occupational health and safety practices in Sri Lanka.