Gender-Inclusive Safety: ILO and OISS Call for Overhaul of Workplace Health Strategies in Ibero-America

In response to these challenges, the ILO and OISS are advocating for a paradigm shift in how occupational safety and health is conceptualized and implemented across Ibero-America.

A groundbreaking new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS) has spotlighted a long-standing issue in workplace safety and health management: the pervasive male-centered approach that fails to account for the distinct occupational risks faced by women. Titled Occupational Safety and Health with a Gender Perspective: Challenges and Advances in Ibero-America, the report underscores how systemic gender bias has led to significant gaps in occupational safety and health (OSH) across the region.

A Historical Oversight with Modern Consequences

Historically, OSH policies and practices have been designed around the biological and occupational realities of male workers, particularly in industries like construction, manufacturing, and mining. This male-centric model has overlooked the unique needs and experiences of women, especially those working in sectors that are predominantly female, such as healthcare, education, domestic work, and caregiving—fields often undervalued despite their critical role in the economy and society.

The ILO-OISS report reveals that risk assessments, protective measures, and occupational safety standards have prioritized traditionally male-dominated sectors, neglecting the biological and psychosocial risks associated with female-dominated fields. For instance, ergonomic risks, repetitive strain injuries, emotional burnout, and mental health challenges are common in caregiving and healthcare roles, yet they receive far less attention and funding than hazards in male-dominated professions.

A Disproportionate Burden on Women

Data from the ILO and World Health Organization (WHO) show a stark gender divide in the health consequences of work. While 86% of deaths from ischemic heart disease due to long working hours occur among men—often linked to physically demanding labour—women are significantly more affected by psychological stress, anxiety, and depression. These mental health challenges are frequently tied to high workloads, emotional labour, and the dual burden of paid and unpaid work, particularly in feminized sectors.

The unequal division of labour, both within the home and in the workforce, plays a central role in exacerbating these challenges. Women are more likely to be responsible for unpaid reproductive and care work while also engaging in formal employment, often under precarious or informal conditions. This dual responsibility increases their exposure to both physical and psychosocial occupational risks.

Moreover, the report draws attention to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to fit the female body. Ill-fitting gear not only hampers women’s ability to perform their jobs effectively but also increases the risk of injury—highlighting a critical gap in workplace safety protocols.

Structural Inequality and Underrepresentation

One of the key findings of the report is the systemic underrepresentation of women in decision-making bodies related to OSH. Women are often excluded from safety committees, risk assessments, and policy development processes, resulting in a lack of gender-sensitive approaches in occupational health.

This exclusion perpetuates a cycle where women's occupational risks remain invisible or underestimated, and where their specific needs are sidelined in favour of a one-size-fits-all model based on male norms. The result is a persistent gender gap in workplace protections, access to health services, and overall job quality.

Toward a Gender-Responsive Approach to OSH

In response to these challenges, the ILO and OISS are advocating for a paradigm shift in how occupational safety and health is conceptualized and implemented across Ibero-America. The report outlines a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at integrating a gender perspective into all aspects of OSH policy and practice. These include:

• Mandatory gender equality training for employers, OSH professionals, and workers to raise awareness of gender-specific risks.

• Increased female participation in OSH committees and leadership roles to ensure diverse perspectives in policy-making.

• Gender-sensitive occupational health research that accounts for biological, social, and cultural factors affecting risk exposure and health outcomes.

• Adaptation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to accommodate female anatomy and ensure effective protection.

• Maternity protection measures that address the health needs of pregnant and nursing workers.

• Protocols to prevent and address violence and harassment in the workplace, including gender-based violence.

• Work–life balance policies, such as flexible schedules and caregiving support, to alleviate the dual burden on women workers.

• Recognition of psychosocial risks in feminized sectors and the implementation of mental health support programs.

A Call to Action for Fairer Workplaces

Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized the urgency of closing gender gaps in OSH:

“Women face particular challenges in the world of work, stemming from both structural inequalities and gender bias in the management of occupational safety and health.”

Gina Magnolia Riaño Barón, Secretary-General of the OISS, echoed the need for a fundamental shift:

“It is imperative for occupational safety and health policies to recognize the biological, social, and cultural differences between women and men in order to apply effective prevention and protection measures.”

The report concludes with a strong message: creating safer, more inclusive workplaces is not just a matter of fairness—it's essential for achieving social justice and decent work for all. By addressing gender disparities in occupational health, the ILO and OISS aim to transform workplaces into environments where both women and men can thrive, free from preventable risks and inequality.

With this publication, the organizations reaffirm their commitment to fostering gender equity in labour policy, calling on governments, employers, unions, and civil society to join the effort in reimagining OSH through a gender lens—one that acknowledges difference, promotes dignity, and protects every worker.