On 13th June, 2025, the 113th International Labour Conference was hosted in Geneva. The delegates adopted Convention 192 and Recommendation 20, making it the first ever set of international labour standards addressing biological hazards in the workplace.
The defined instruments cover various biological hazards, ranging from bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even allergens to animal venoms and genetically modified organisms. These standards are fit for and apply to all workers, especially those working in high-risk and vulnerable setups, including but not limited to agriculture, healthcare, construction, and transport.
A dual set of responsibilities has been detailed for both Governments and Employers, as follows :
- Governments are expected to adopt policies that prevent, eliminate, or control biological risks, and establish procedures for emergencies, disease reporting, and accident investigation.
- In consultation with workers, employers need to implement measures including risk assessments, early warning systems, training, and protective protocols.
This adoption marks a turning point for establishing and highlighting key worker protections, such as the right to refuse unsafe work and report violations without retaliation, guaranteed participation in safety processes, universal access to occupational health services, and income protection during disease outbreaks. Furthermore, these standards first incorporate environmental and climate considerations while covering mental health impacts associated with biological exposure.
Though the Convention is binding, the Recommendation also offers non-binding guidance on risk assessments, emergencies, and training. This makes it essential for the member states to ratify and integrate these discussed standards into integral national laws while paying heed to vulnerable groups like migrants, young, pregnant, and breastfeeding workers.
ILO’s landmark convention on biological hazards represents a historic advancement in occupational health & safety. It’s a global benchmark for protecting workers from invisible threats across all industries. However, the real test now lies in enforcing these standards into protections on the ground.