One of the key functions of the International Labour Organization from its inception has been the establishment of international standards on labour and social matters. These international labour standards take the form of Conventions and Recommendations. About 70 of them deal with occupational safety and health matters.

In addition to the ILO Conventions and Recommendations dealing with occupational safety and health matters, further guidance is provided in Codes of Practice and manuals which are used as reference material by those in charge of formulating detailed regulations or responsible for occupational safety and health.

The most relevant ones referred to chemical risk and management are:

ILO Convention 155 concerning Occupational Safety and Health (1981)
To download the Convention here.
To see the ratifications to the Convention here.

ILO Convention 170 concerning Safety in the use of Chemicals at Work (1990) and its accompanying Recommendation (No.177) represent international efforts to upgrade the national measures and harmonize regulatory standards. They emphasise the need to establish a coherent national policy of chemical safety ranging from the classification and labelling of chemicals to the control in all aspects of the use of chemicals.

To download the Convention here.
To see the ratifications to the Convention here.

ILO Convention 174 concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents (1993) and its accompanying Recommendation 1993 (No. 181) aims to protect workers, the public and the environment from major industrial accidents, in particular through the prevention of major accidents involving hazardous substances and the limitation of the consequences of such accidents. It applies to major hazard installations with the exception of nuclear installations and radioactive materials processing, military installations and transport outside the site of an installation other than pipeline.

To download the Convention here.
To see the ratifications to the Convention here.

ILO Convention 139 concerning Occupational Cancer Convention (1974) and its related accompanying Recommendation No.147 provides for efforts to replace cancer-causing agents with safe products.

To download the Convention here.
To see the ratifications to the Convention here.