Background: In 2005, the International Labour Office (ILO) estimated that more than two million lives are claimed annually by job-related accidents and illnesses, and that number appears to be rising. Some 268 million non-fatal workplace accidents occur in which people miss at least three days of work, as well as 160 million new cases of work-related illness. The human cost is tragic and incalculable. The economic cost is almost beyond comprehension – the loss of four percent of the world’s GDP in compensation and absence from work. In 2005, seeking to raise industry focus on safety around the world, DuPont initiated the first-ever “World Safety Declaration” to provide companies with a framework for finding common ground in improving workplace safety globally.

DuPont Action: DuPont led a coalition of diverse companies from around the world in unveiling the declaration in September 2005 at the XVII World Congress of Safety and Health at Work in Orlando. The declaration calls for participating companies “to affect real-world change” that leads to increased safety and injury reduction in the workplace and at home. In signing this document, companies commit to improving workplace safety in ways that can be defined and measured, and reporting their challenges, progress and success in 2008, at the XVIIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.

The global coalition of the “World Safety Declaration” includes 15 founding companies, headquartered in various countries and representing a broad range of industries. Founding companies include DuPont, General Electric, BP, TATA Steel, BE&K services, Calvert, Fluor services, Rohm & Haas, TATA Chemicals, Evergreen Aviation Technologies, Aker Kvaerner services, Yantai Wanhua Polyurethanes, Hindustan Lever, CEMEX, and Reliance Industries.

More than 30 global companies committed to the first World Safety Declaration. The companies committed to reporting their progress, successes and challenges at the 2008 World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Korea. The World Congress, which is held every three years, draws together several thousand key leaders and influencers of workplace safety policy from industry, government, and labor to present and discuss emerging safety research, trends, best practices and innovations in the workplace.

As of August 2006, 34 major global companies across a wide range of industries have become charter signers of the World Safety Declaration. In addition to the 15 founding companies named above, they include Ansell Limited, Borealis, CH2M HILL, Ciba, DelStar, EDP, Endesa, Fortum, Intel Corp., KONE, MOL, Nestlé, National Safety Council, Plastic Omniun, Portugal Telecom, Shaw Group, Sonae, SUAL and Unilever.

Any company that is committed to making a difference in workplace safety, both within their organization and in the world at large, is invited to sign the World Safety Declaration.

Signers of the World Safety Declaration agree:

• To make a public commitment to improving workplace safety;
• To collaborate with other companies to enhance safety in the workplace and in the home in ways that can be defined, evaluated and measured; and
• To report its challenges, progress and successes at the XVIIIth World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Seoul, Korea in 2008. The World Congress, which is held every three years, draws together several thousand key leaders and influencers of workplace safety policy from industry, government, and labor to present and discuss emerging safety research, trends, best practices and innovations in the workplace.

The World Safety Declaration is a formal call to action, designed to bring about a global industry commitment to workplace safety, in a way that enables ideas to be shared among, and adopted by, companies throughout the world. It asserts that individuals and organizations have the right and the moral obligation to make a commitment to improve safety conditions. And it decrees that the enhancement of safety in the workplace and in the home is an achievable objective.

An Evolving Initiative: The World Safety Declaration is not an organization, but rather a collaboration of concerned companies who share a desire to improve workplace safety globally. This collaboration will be facilitated via the Internet through a website with a members-only section and through quarterly webinars on topics of interest to signers. Meetings will be held in various locations to exchange practices that reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Based on member interest, special interest groups may form, recommended standards may be shared, and special programming may be developed.

A World Safety Declaration Governing Committee is being formed to issue statements on behalf of the initiative, maintain its website and other communications, to accept and welcome new signers/members, and to adopt amendments to the Declaration. For example, the Governing Committee may choose to appoint an Advisory Board made up of leading global organizations in the public sector to provide advice and information.

Communication to Stakeholders: World Safety Declaration signers are encouraged to share their involvement within their organization and to external stakeholders such as customers, shareholders and the media. A Signer Kit will be provided that includes sample press releases and a certificate of participation. As more companies sign the World Safety Declaration, additional communications vehicles will be explored and shared.

Making a Difference: The power of the World Safety Declaration depends on the number, quality and diversity of the signing companies. If your company is interested in joining this initiative, contact us at signer@worldsafetydeclaration.com. If you would like to help publicize this effort, please contact us at info@worldsafetydeclaration.com. And, for further information, visit www.worldsafetydeclaration.com .

08/06