Text from

World Health Organisation

THIRD MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
London, 16–18 June 1999

Health, environment and safety management

35. We note with appreciation the document Towards good practice in health, environment
and safety management in industrial and other enterprises and we recognize our role and the
role of stakeholders in implementing its objectives. We thank the Government of Poland for
leading its development and will take into account its holistic and participatory approach as a
basis for assessing, strengthening or establishing, as appropriate, national policies designed to
facilitate good practice in all types of enterprises.

36. We recognize the importance of instituting workplace measures to meet public health
needs and goals, and the right of workers to be involved in the decision-making process on those
measures. We will promote good practice in health, environment and safety management in
enterprises, in collaboration with stakeholders in our countries such as local authorities,
enforcement agencies, business (including small and medium-sized enterprises), trade unions,
NGOs, social and private insurance institutions, educational and research institutions, auditing
bodies, and providers of prevention services. The current regulatory frameworks and economical
appraisal related to health and safety should be, if necessary, strengthened for this purpose and
self-regulatory mechanisms (voluntary initiatives and agreements) should be used as
complementary measures. We invite WHO and the International Labour Organization to work
together to assist countries in developing processes, involving all stakeholders, for
implementation of environmental practice which also promotes public health, and to develop
close cooperation with the European Commission to assist the candidate countries for
membership of the European Union to meet their obligations.

37. We recognize the rights and needs of workers to be informed of occupational and
environmental health hazards in the workplace, and of the public to be informed of hazards
posed to the community by the activities of enterprises. We will create or strengthen information
systems on health, environment and safety management and performance in enterprises, making
them accessible to employers and employees as well as to national and foreign investors.

38. We invite all concerned intergovernmental bodies and international organizations to
promote a holistic concept of health, environment and safety management in enterprises, both
nationally and internationally, by applying a precautionary, step-by-step approach.

Full declaration available in pdf @ http://www.who.dk/Document/E69046.pdf