Women now contribute over half a billion paid workers equivalent to 40% of global workforce and 43% of agricultural workforce. In this scenario, gender sensitivity is the major concern in today’s workplace. According to ILO, Gender issue in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) provides the same priority to women’s as to men in the design of policies of organization relating to OSH. Organization must imply gender issue into all aspects and at all levels of an institution or organization objectives, activities, systems, structures and resources allocation( Human and Financial Both)
While the concept of gender sensitivity in the workplace has gained some attention, there are very few example that it has been taken into OSH legislation or organization policy and workplace action. When reference is made to gender and health, it is usually understood to be primarily concerned with women’s reproductive health and indeed it is a general phenomenon in all areas that when gender issue are discussed, they generally deal with women not with men.
The gender division of labour, employment pattern, social roles structures and biological differences can contribute to gender specific patterns of occupational hazards and risks . Recognition of gender division in modern workforce is essential in promoting safer workplace and healthier outcomes for all workers
As men and women are exposed to different hazards and risks at work, gender integration at workplace should respond to specific hazards and risk, working conditions and requirement , benefitting both and not adversely affecting either men or women in the implementation of protective and preventive measures. This means neither being gender biased nor being gender blind in the design of policies and OSH practise.
Summarized from ILO Guidelines for gender mainstreaming in OSH practise. .