Third RIAL Workshop on "Occupational Health and Safety"

Topics: 
LABOR
Enforcement and awareness of labor legislation
Working conditions
Occupational safety and health
Event date: 
10/21/2008 to 10/22/2008
Place: 
Cusco
Host Country: 
Peru
Objectives: 
  • Identify lessons learned and define follow-up actions on the main subjects currently concerning the health and safety of workers; the characteristics of prevention and risk-control schemes, health promotion at work and HIV/AIDS treatment in the work place.
  • Follow-up on the mandates of the IV Summit of the Americas and the XV Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) regarding occupational health and safety as well as the conclusions of the first two hemispheric workshops on the subject matter.
Organizers: 

This Workshop was part of the IACML Calendar of Activities for 2008-2009, and it was jointly organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment of Peru and the Organization of American States (OAS), in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and International Labor Organization (ILO). It was funded by the Government of Canada, through the contribution it has provided to the RIAL.

Relevant documents: 

Participants:

  • Officers from the Ministries of Labour of the 34 OAS Member States responsible for occupational health and safety issues.
  • Representatives from COSATE and CEATAL.
  • Representatives from international organizations, experts, research centers, centers collaborating with occupational health and safety, among others. 
Presentations: 

Opening Session

PERU - Carmen Aguilar Vela, Director for Labor and Employment Promotion for Lima and Callao, MTPE of Peru
OAS (Organization of American States) - Maria Claudia Camacho, Labor Specialist, Department of Social Development and Employment, OAS
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - Luz Maritza Tennassee, Senior Regional Advisor on Workers’ Health, PAHO
International Labour Organization (ILO) - Valentina Forastieri, Principal Specialist in Occupational Health and Safety, ILO

Panel 1 - Promotion of safety and health in the workplace and worker protection: guaranteeing decent work

Introductory presentation by the Moderator Valentina Forastieri, ILO Principal Specialist in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Ministry of Labor and Social Security of COSTA RICA - Elizabeth Chinchilla, Coordinator of the Area of Agriculture, Department of Medicine, Hygiene and Occupational Health
Secretariat of Labor and Social Security of MEXICO - Florencio Polo Olvera, Deputy Director of Management Systems of Safety and Health at Work
Ministry of Labor and Small and Micro Enterprise Development of TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - Karla Prime, Senior Legal Advisor of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency
Dialogue to exchange experiences

The social responsibility and commitment of employers and workers to OHS

COSATE - Marta Pujadas, Vicepresident of COSATE
CEATAL - Darío Hermida, Representative of CEATAL
Dialogue to exchange experiences

Panel 2 - Expansion and strengthening of schemes to prevent and control occupational hazards

Introductory presentation by the Moderator Oscar Feo, Executive Secretary, Andean Organization of Health (ORAS)
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - Luz Maritza Tennassee, Senior Regional Advisor on Workers’ Health, “Overview of OHS in the Americas”
Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security of ARGENTINA - Juan Horacio González, Superintendant of Labor Risks
UNITED STATES Department of Labor - James W. Shea, Deputy Director, Office of International Relations
Ministry of Labor and Employment of BRAZIL - Rogério Galvão da Silva, Senior Technologist of Fundacentro
Dialogue to exchange experiences

Panel 3 - HIV/AIDS in the workplace

Moderator: 
Carmen Aguilar Vela, Director for Labor and Employment Promotion for Lima and Callao, MTPE of Peru
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - Bertha Gómez, Sub regional Advisor on HIV for the Andean Region, “HIV/AIDS in the workplace, regional and world-wide trends”
International Labor Organization (ILO) - Ana Catalina Ramírez, Focal Point for HIV/AIDS, ILO Office for Central America, “Strategies and perspectives for an adequate response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace”
Open dialogue
Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion of PERU - Manuela García, National Director of Labor Relations
Ministry of Labor, Human Services and Social Security of GUYANA - Neville Nichols, Occupational Safety and Health Officer
Ministry of Labor of HONDURAS - Juan Angel Cabrera, Occupational Health and Safety Inspector
Dialogue to exchange experiences

Closing Session

Presentation of summary of discussions and lessons learned

 

Moderators of the three sessions will present summary of discussions and lessons learned as well as suggestions for future actions
Dialogue and comments on the conclusions

Final comments on the conclusions and ideas on how to move forward this topic:

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) - Luz Maritza Tennassee, PAHO
International Labour Organization (ILO) - Valentina Forastieri, ILO
Organization of American States (OAS) - Maria Claudia Camacho, OAS
Open Dialogue

Closing Remarks - Minister Jorge Villasante, Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion of Peru

Documents provided by participants

This is a space to share documents relevant to the topic of Occupational Health and Safety which have been sent by the participants of the Workshop. We invite you to send us any relevant information to mcamacho@oas.org

Experiencias sobre Acción Nacional y Promoción de Programas sobre la prevención de VIH/SIDA y la protección de los derechos laborales en los lugares de trabajo
Contextualización de la salud y seguridad ocupacional de los trabajadores en zonas urbanas: La necesidad de una perspectiva global y un enfoque integrado
Factores Psicosociales y Salud Mental en el Trabajo
Ampliar y Mantener la Fuerza Laboral de Salud Mundial
Redes y Salud de los Trabajadores
Condiciones de Empleo y Desigualdades de Salud