Report References to occupational exposures “Guidelines for good practices in relation to the human rights obligations related to the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes” The Special Rapporteur articulates a human rights-based approach to hazardous substances and wastes, including pollutants, toxic industrial chemicals and pesticides, which requires a specific focus on the protection of those most vulnerable or at risk: children, the poor, workers, persons with disabilities, older persons, indigenous peoples, migrants and minorities, while taking into account gender-specific risks. Designing laws and policies to protect those most at risk has been shown to have a ripple effect for the broader community. States must ensure that laws, policies and institutions aimed at assessing and mitigating the potential impacts of toxics are based on the needs of the most vulnerable. (A/HRC/36/41) (2017) In 2013, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that nearly 2 million workers per year — between 3 and 4 workers per minute — die prematurely from occupational diseases linked to toxic chemicals.5 Laws in most countries permit workers to be exposed to levels of toxic chemicals hundreds of times higher than the exposure allowed among the general public and often do not take into account real-world exposure scenarios or gender-specific and other sensitivities. Workers are frequently unable to exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, which is necessary to secure a healthy workplace. The report notes how information on toxics is essential in order to prevent adverse impacts, to ensure the realization of freedom of expression and to enable individuals and communities to participate in decision-making processes and to seek and obtain remedy. Health and safety information about toxic chemicals must never be confidential. Information must be available, accessible, functional and consistent with the principle of non-discrimination in order for human rights to be respected, protected, enjoyed and fulfilled. Despite notable improvements in many countries over recent decades, the right to information remains insufficiently realized in the area of hazardous substances and wastes, particularly with respect to protecting the most vulnerable from adverse impacts of exposure, whether from consumer products, at the workplace or via food, water, air or other sources. 5 Updated figures are available in the present report at para. 3. • Inadequate standards of protection • Exploitation of those most at risk • Restrained freedom of association • Failures to realize the right to information • Limited progress in prevention of exposure • Inaccessible remedies, justice and accountability 51 A/HRC/39/48 Workers should have the right to remove themselves from conditions they believe are unsafe, and the right to information regarding occupational health and safety. However, necessary information on safety precautions or health risks linked to toxic chemicals is often unavailable or inaccessible to workers. Information may be in a foreign language, and labelled pictures may be indecipherable or too small to be legible. States continue to allow the use of industrial chemicals and pesticides under the presumption that personal protective equipment will be used, and that it will be used as effectively as expected. However, workers often do not have access to necessary protective equipment of reasonable quality, and the conditions under which they are expected to use the equipment are often completely unreasonable; thus, risk assessments are inaccurate. Workers are exposed to substances whose health effects have not been studied adequately. Adverse health impacts from chronic occupational exposure to toxic chemicals may not manifest Challenges faced by workers