The World Employment Confederation — the organization representing the staffing industry on a global basis — in a post called out importance of safety on “World Day for Health and Safety at Work,” saying the staffing industry had taken the lead worldwide in ensuring safety though more must be done. It noted temporary workers are more likely than directly employed workers to have an accident in the first three months of work. Reasons include more young people, lateral entrants, newcomers and returnees; in addition, temporary work can involve many professions that require manual activities.

“A safe and healthy working environment is now a fundamental right guaranteed by the International Labour Organisation but there is still work to do to make it a reality,” according to WEC’s post.

It also noted national staffing industry organizations that are taking steps to ensure temporary worker safety including the American Staffing Association and its collaboration with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop and executive a strategic plan to protect the health and safety of temporary workers.

Other national staffing organizations whose programs to increase temporary worker safety were cited by the WEC were Swissstaffing in Switzerland, Asempleo in Spain and Federgon in Belgium.