Bridging the Gap: Exploring Global Governance in Managing Occupational Health and Safety Practice

The study investigates the importance of an International Occupational Health and Safety Management Governing Body tasked with overseeing and enhancing occupational health and safety. This study aimed to explore the role of global governance in managing occupational health practice, with a foucus on identifying best practices and challenges. It is the obligation of the governments thereof, as employers or trade unions do, to formulate and enforce the occupational health and safety policy prepared through the tripartite collaboration. The ILO points out that every country is required to have a national policy on occupational safety and health together with measures to be formulated at the corporate and national level which seek to advance and protect the welfare of employees. This thesis utilised a cross-sectional design alongside an exploratory research design. This study's exploratory approach aims to facilitate the ILO /OSH Strategy, which encompasses an action plan for 2024-2030. The study was conducted in the Department of health, South Africa, Registered Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (OHNPs) on good standing. A questionnaire was used as the principal data gathering method between July 2023 and July 2024. An exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional study using quantitative questionnaires was used to collect data from a sample of occupational health professionals. A questionnaire assessed perceptions of global governance structures and practices in occupational health.The study found that a significant majority of participants (67%) agree on the need for an international gorvening body to manage occupational health and safety across all industries. A smaller portion of participants (22%) agree but expressed concerns, while a minority of participants (5.6%) disagree, suggesting that they may prefer alternative approaches. Findings suggests that there is a strong consensus among participants on the need for improved governance of occupational health and safety, and that international body may be one potential solution.