World's first manifesto for Global Industrial Safety launched

Developed in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP), and Lloyd's Register Foundation, the Manifesto marks a significant step towards addressing emerging and long-standing safety risks affecting workers across the world.

The International Labour Organization estimates that, globally, around three million deaths each year are directly attributed to inadequate safety measures and hazardous work environments, with a loss of 3.9% of worldwide GDP—according to UNIDO.

New technologies, such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and advanced robotics, are enabling the creation of more innovative products, intelligent factories, and flexible supply chains. While these innovations can pose risks to workers' health, they also provide an opportunity to enhance workplace safety.

The Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety is a collective set of industry principles that promotes the safe adoption of technology in new industrial processes. The manifesto champions the use of technology to tackle safety risks for workers worldwide, marking a significant development in global industrial safety.

Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring relevance to developing countries disproportionately affected by occupational accidents and particularly vulnerable to climate-change-related hazards. The manifesto also recognises the specific safety challenges faced by groups in the informal economy, such as women and migrant workers.

David Reid, Director of Global Advocacy and Partnership Campaigns, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said: “Emerging technologies such as big data, cloud computing, robotics, and 3D printing, are rapidly changing the industrial landscape. While they bring significant opportunities, they also pose new risks to the safety of workers, especially in the developing world. The GIFIS Manifesto serves as a beacon to ensure new technologies are adopted safely across industrial processes. We hope that governments, regulators, and business leaders will embrace the Manifesto, creating a safe, sustainable future for all.”

The launch of the Manifesto for Global Industrial Safety is an important moment in the collective pursuit of safer industrial environments across the world. Organisations have the opportunity to showcase their commitment to industrial safety, share insights and best practices that inform policy, and collaborate on initiatives that can drive meaningful change.

Several key organisations have contributed to the development of the Manifesto, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), the National Safety Council, Cranfield University, Safetytech Accelerator Limited, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the British Standards Institution (BSI), and various private-sector organisations from a range of industrial sectors across the world.

The Manifesto marks the first major milestone of the Global Initiative for Industrial Safety (GIFIS), launched as a key outcome of the 2021 edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, a high-profile event that convenes world leaders to promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development and advance global good.