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It is a sobering thought that the
prefaces to the preceding editions of this Encyclopaedia are still
timely: occupational illnesses and injuries remain an unnecessary
blight on the human landscape. Much progress has been made since
the publication of the first edition of this work. Exposure to some
extremely dangerous poisons, such as the deadly radium painted on
watch faces to make them glow in the dark, or the crippling and
disfiguring phosphorus that had been used as the combustible material
in matches, have been completely eradicated. Governments have established
regulations and have undertaken many noteworthy actions to guard
against the entirely preventable tragedies of occupational death,
disease and disability. The level of knowledge among all our constituents
is vastly improved. The ILO itself has contributed to this progress
with Conventions, Recommendations and Codes of Practice governing
many workplace conditions, as well as with its many technical cooperation
programmes and specialized publications. Equally important, the
capability of medicine, science and engineering to solve problems,
and to provide better means of recognition and of hazard prevention
has dramatically increased. Social systems are in place for worker
protection and for worker participation in decisions relating to
their work environments.
Yet, despite tireless efforts to promote better working conditions,
the ILO and others must still combat many forms of exploitation
of working people, such as child labour, indentured servitude and
clandestine work, with their inevitably hazardous and oppressive
conditions. Tens of millions of others labour while exposed to chemical,
physical and social hazards which drain their health and their spirits.
Solutions do not arise simply from issuing publications or obtaining
advice from experts. The health and well-being of workers is an
issue of social justice and the ILO stands above all for the ideal
of promoting social justice in the world. Ultimately solutions are
social as much as technical. It is not merely the lack of know-how
that perpetuates the toll of death, disability and disease in the
working population, it is the lack of the social means and the social
will to do something about it. The societal basis for occupational
safety and health is perhaps the most important reason for the ILO
to publish the Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety.
With its publication we present a panorama of the problems, and
their technical and social solutions: we define the fields for action.
The Encyclopaedia's popularity and influence have been enormous.
Tens of thousands of copies have been in use throughout the greater
part of this century. Earlier editions have been published in Spanish,
French, Russian, Chinese, Hungarian and Serbo-Croatian. The Encyclopaedia
is the most widely distributed publication of the ILO. The process
of compiling the fourth edition has continued the tradition of reaching
out to world experts, which the Office sees as essential to its
continued growth and relevance. We have assembled a network of more
than 2,000 specialists from over 65 countries who have extensively
contributed their time, energy and expertise to the writing and
reviewing of articles and the editing of chapters. Most major health
and safety institutions, governmental, academic or private, from
around the world, are contributing in one form or another to this
immense undertaking, an act of generosity and support for which
we are grateful. The hope and the intent is that this Encyclopaedia
provide technical, theoretical and ethical underpinnings to the
ongoing work of achieving the goal of social justice in a global
economy.
Michel Hansenne Director-General, International
Labour Office Geneva
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