Launched as a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS), in collaboration with Cambridge University’s Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP), Global Initiative for Industrial Safety (GIFIS) has brought together industry leaders from across the world to develop the first-ever Industrial Safety Manifesto, representing a multi-disciplinary consensus on pioneering a safer world through the safe adoption of technology.
Set to be launched at the inaugural US edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS America) on September 29, 2022, in the city of Pittsburgh, the Industrial Safety Manifesto offers a blueprint for industry, government, and civil society to solve the global industrial safety challenge. 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 – according to UNIDO – a loss of 3.9 per cent of worldwide GDP.
In a collaboration between UNIDO, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, the Industrial Safety Manifesto will set out guiding principles for the safe adoption of new technologies and the rapid deployment of technology-enabled safety solutions.
The Global Initiative for Industrial Safety hosted two virtual workshops with key industry stakeholders to identify and prioritise the principles underpinning the manifesto. The first workshop on September 6 was attended by more than 20 industry experts, predominantly from the private sector, while the second workshop on September 22 was hosted by UNIDO.
Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, Director, Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade, UNIDO, said: “Industrial safety gaps can cause significant hazards, both on a human and financial level, and in the ever-changing landscape in which we operate, there is an essential need for the policy solutions proposed by the Industrial Safety Manifesto.”
“As industries adopt new technologies, new safety risks are emerging: robots interacting with humans can lead to new types of accidents; industrial processes connected to the internet are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks; and continuous worker supervision can lead to negative stress-related health impacts. However, while technology involves new challenges, it is also enabling new solutions. We hope to be able to harness these in realising a vision of a safer world enabled by technology.”
The Industrial Safety Manifesto will be launched at the inaugural edition of GMIS America, which will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from September 28-30, 2022. With a particular focus on advancing industrial safety, GMIS America sessions will spotlight how new technologies redefine industrial safety. The roadshow will also feature a dedicated session titled ‘Navigating industrial safety in the smart era: Intelligent solutions for the digital age’ on September 29, examining topics including ensuring the use of new technologies does not lead to new safety risks and how to accelerate the adoption of new technology-enabled solutions to address old safety challenges. In addition, safety experts from Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the University of Cambridge, the UNIDO, and Pittsburgh-based Industrial Scientific will highlight the immediate actions needed to address new and deep-rooted industrial safety challenges.
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