BWI action

Mobilizing for improvements in working conditions in the building and timber trades has always been a fundamental part of BWI's global trade union activity. Notoriously dangerous, the industries in which BWI members work continue to destroy people´s lives by exposing them to well known, and often avoidable, hazards.

To this end, BWI has set up a Health and Safety Committee - see About Us section - and developed an BWI/EFBWW/NFBWW Action plan which aims to improve the way health and safety issues are monitored, co-ordinated and promoted. It provides straightforward advice to unions and assists them to protect the health and safety of their members.

The BWI encourages affiliates to campaign for the ratification of ILO Convention 167 on health and safety in construction, and for a complete global ban on the use of asbestos. Workers in BWI sectors do some of the most dangerous jobs of all being exposed to hazardous dust and chemicals, including deadly asbestos fibres contained in building materials. The BWI also encourages affiliates to celebrate International Workers' Memorial Day - see publications.

There are serious health concerns due to the exposure to man-made mineral fibres (MMF); the BWI encourages affiliates to promote its Helsingør Declaration - see publications. The BWI continues to call for the use of tried and tested safe products and processes which contain less or no organic solvents. In this context, the BWI has signed the Copenhagen agreement with the EFBWW and NFBWW - see publications.

Millions of workers throughout the world are confronted to health risks of wood dust. The BWI adopted the Brunn declaration together with the EFBWW and NFBWW - see publications.

The BWI believes that international representation is also important in the various forums that address particular aspects of occupational health and environment, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Finally, the BWI launched the BWI Global Programme on Health and Safety in May 2000 which aims to help affiliated organizations to develop and strengthen structures, policies and strategies on occupational health and safety.