Workshop on Safety and Health in tanning and leather industries

The leather and tanning industries are crucial for employment and income creation globally, with key producers including China, Brazil, Russia, India, and Italy. The sector supports a diverse workforce and is vital for local economic growth, particularly through small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The European tanning industry leads in technological advancements and sustainability practices, emphasizing corporate social responsibility.

However, the industry must adapt to new legislative requirements, such as EU directives on corporate sustainability and forced labor, as well as international agreements. These pressures drive the need for more stringent sustainability practices and improved worker safety.

The tanning process involves chemical transformations of animal hides into leather, exposing workers to hazardous chemicals, noise pollution, and physical demands that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Implementing safety protocols, ergonomic interventions, and mental health resources is crucial for mitigating these risks.

Tools like the EU-OSHA's online interactive Risk Assessment for the leather and tanning industry, the UN Handbook on Occupational Safety and Health, and the ILO's Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Textile, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear Industries provide essential guidance. These resources support the implementation of the new ILO fundamental principle on a safe and healthy working environment.

The ILO promotes cooperation between governments and social partners to advance decent work. Projects in Argentina, Pakistan, and South Africa offer valuable insights into addressing industry challenges. 

The workshop aimed to share experiences and build consensus on promoting a safe and healthy working environment, ensuring that employers and workers are equipped to meet these challenges effectively.

Objective

The primary objective of the workshop was to promote peer-to-peer learning and exchange of good practices between social partners in Europe and other producing countries for ensuring a safe and healthy working environment in tanning industries.

It aimed at:

• Better understanding new trends and developments when it comes to safety and health hazards and risks and global and regional frameworks to address these
• Raising awareness of tripartite constituents and key stakeholders on the main risks to workers’ safety and health and to the environment;
  Sharing knowledge and good practices on how to address occupational safety and health risks
• Providing technical guidance for the implementation of the new fundamental principle and right at work and other relevant international labour standards on tannery workplace safety as well as applying sectoral tools to improve safety and health of workers in the sector
• Enhancing the capabilities of workers and employers to further design and adopt measures to prevent and remediate occupational safety and health risks
• Fostering collaboration and partnerships to promote a safe and healthy working.
   

In particular, the workshop promoted a discussion among the participants on the following questions:

1. What are the opportunities and challenges faced by the tanning industry to comply with international, regional and national legislation to ensure a safe and healthy working environment?

2. What are the measures needed to improve safety and health in tanneries and how can manufacturers, retailers and brands can be engaged to support health and safety in the leather industry?

3. What are the good practices adopted by the sector and how to promote their scaleup?

Participants 

The workshop brought together participants from different groups:

• EU SSDCs members: 5 workers and 5 employers from the tanning sector
• Representatives from other producing countries: 3 employers and 3 workers from the Americas, Asia and Africa
• Representatives from employers and workers organizations: COTANCE, IOE, industriAll-Europe, IndustriALL Global Union, ITUC)
• Research persons: international experts and representatives from the EC, EU OISHA, ILO and UNIDO

Expected Outcomes

The workshop represents a contribution towards achieving a safe and healthy working environment in tanning. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aimed to foster a collaborative approach to safety and health, equipping participants with the necessary skills and tools to address the safety risks in tanneries and promote meaningful changes in the leather value chain including in collaboration with brands and retailers. The insights and strategies developed during the workshop served as a foundation for ongoing efforts to promote a more safe and sustainable sector.

By the end of the workshop, participants had:

• A deeper understanding of the main risks to the safety and health in tanning and to the reputation of leather.
• Enhanced knowledge and capacity to lever preventive and protective measures. 
• Reviewed examples of OSH management systems for tanning industries and proposed corrective measures for its improvement.
• Developed actionable proposals to drive change in the sector.
• Enhanced capacity to better respond to requirements arising from different international, regional and legislation.
• Identified potential areas for collaboration and partnerships.