Training of trainers on improving safety and health in small and micro enterprises

Small and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an important part of a nation’s economic activities, however, due to deficits in both human and financial resources, SMEs tend to have higher rates of work-related accidents and diseases. In addition to huge human suffering, as SMEs employ a large proportion of the workforce in many countries, the lower productivity in SMEs caused by this high rate of work-related accidents and diseases will prevent sustainable national economic growth. The poor development of occupational safety and health (OSH) in SMEs is considered a widespread issue in most countries, and it frequently constitutes one of the priorities in the national political action on OSH. The problem arises from many factors such as the lack of awareness towards the issue, the insufficient knowledge and resources, the absence of the adequate external support adapted to SMEs, etc. Since the 80s, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has been developing an important number of programmes to help both entrepreneurs and workers towards the improvement of occupational safety and health (OSH), working conditions and productivity in SMEs. The International Training Centre of the ILO, in collaboration with LABADMIN/OSH (the ILO department in charge of OSH), organizes this training activity in order to increase the dissemination and sustainability of PAOT programmes by involving tripartite constituent organizations, United Nations programmes and projects, training institutions and other intermediate organizations from civil society in the delivery of such programmes. OBJECTIVES • Explain the key points of the participatory action-oriented training programmes. • Organize and deliver training activities based on the ILO participatory action-oriented programmes. • Advise and inform employers and workers on OSH technical solutions. • Transfer knowledge on different approaches for the improvement of working and OSH conditions in the small and micro enterprises and in the informal economy. CONTENT • Introduction to OSH • The small and micro enterprises. Main problems on OSH • Successful OSH approaches for SMEs • The informal economy and OSH • Introduction to PAOT Programmes • Planning and organizing PAOT workshops • Delivery training sessions • Facilitating participatory activities • Conducting checklist exercises • WISE – Work Improvement in Small Enterprises • WIND – Work Improvement in Neighborhood Development • WISH – Work Improvement in Safe Home • WISCON – Work Improvement in Small Construction Sites • POSITIVE – Participation-Oriented Safety Improvement by Trade Union Initiative • PATRIS – Participatory Action Training for Informal Sector Operators • WARM – Work Adjustment for recycling and Managing Waste • Health WISE – Work Improvement in Health Services. NUMBER OF HOURS: The course entailed 60 learning hours. (35 hours for online modules and 25 hours for online training sessions)