Impact areas and claims
Workers’ health, safety, and welfare
Protecting workers’ labor rights through occupational health and safety is an essential part of responsible farming practices that is increasingly in the spotlight from retailers, consumers, governments, and NGOs.
Accountability in occupational health and safety issues at farm level
Why do GLOBALG.A.P. standards address workers’ health, safety, and welfare?
We believe that responsible farming includes people as well as products. That’s why we work to develop accessible solutions for producers of all sizes – from smallholders and family farms to large producer groups – that promote occupational health and safety.
How GLOBALG.A.P. standards address workers’ health, safety, and welfare
Our standards require the implementation of procedures that are designed to manage risks to worker’s health and safety as well as promote their welfare, via four key topic areas:
Helping producers identify and minimize workplace hazards to safeguard workers.
Establishing procedures for safe equipment use, reducing health risks, and guiding emergency responses.
Providing verification and training on health and safety practices.
Empowering workers to voice concerns and promoting effective communication to uphold their welfare.
What we claim: GLOBALG.A.P. standards provide a framework to help producers identify and mitigate potential risks to workers’ health, safety, and welfare posed by people, premises, processes, tools, or machinery throughout the production process. By addressing these hazards, our standards can contribute to a safer, more responsible working environment.
How we address it: GLOBALG.A.P. standards follow the International Labor Organization framework of fundamental rights that considers that a safe and healthy working environment a fundamental principle and right at work. Our standards include risk assessments to identify potential risks and target areas where the risk can be minimized by introducing systems and procedures. For example:
Regarding people, this includes making sure the producers provide safety equipment to workers where needed due to the nature of the activity, requirements on engaging competent persons with regards to occupational health and safety in taking decisions (e.g. worker's health and safety representative or committee) management, farm workers), as well as providing workers’ health and safety training and implementing procedures to mitigate risk for all the workers.
Regarding premises, this includes requirements on implementing a monitoring and defense system with emphasis on e.g., accident monitoring, first aid requirements and resting areas for workers, identifying and maintaining relevant areas on site to prevent accidents or impact to the workers’ health (i.e. fire hazard, emergency routes, emergency showers and cleaning areas, resting areas with water, chemicals management instructions, etc.), providing clean sanitary facilities (toilets and handwashing), utilizing suitable water sources in contact with product that does not pose a health risk, and having systems in place to treat emergencies e.g. emergency and accidents procedures, first aid availability, management constant communication.
Regarding processes, this includes requirements on controlling and including outsourced processes and/or the use of subcontractors in the documented procedures, maintaining a system to plan emergency responses, monitoring and controlling material specifications for personal protective equipment and their proper use, creating systems to ensure that machinery is properly maintained, controlling handling, labelling and storage of protecting harvested and packed products to minimize workers risks, as well as having proper assistance in case of injuries and medical emergencies.
Regarding products, this includes criteria on checking the use of suitable and fit-for-purpose equipment, tools, devices containers by the workers, as well as checking the existence of the correct personal protective equipment, their proper use and the quantities for the size of the operation.
Standards which include criteria on workers’ health, safety, and welfare:
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA)
Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM)
Produce Handling Assurance (PHA)
Why we address it: Identifying workplace health and safety risks is essential for maintaining workers' well-being. Producers are obligated to assess and communicate these risks, and workers have the right to information and appropriate communication channels. Our standards include risk assessment and hazard analysis measures as the first step in creating a safe, healthy, and productive work environment that benefits both employees and organizations.
| Ref | FV-SMART & GFS 20.01.02 |
| Principle | There is a documented risk assessment for workers’ health and safety. |
| Criteria | The documented risk assessment shall reflect conditions on the farm, including worker facilities and any on-farm worker housing. The risk assessment shall be reviewed and updated annually and when changes occur that impact workers’ health and safety (new machinery, new plant protection products (PPPs), modified cultivation practices, new health risks, etc.). Incidents and accidents shall be recorded. Examples of hazards may include moving machine parts, electricity, vehicle traffic, flammable substances, fertilizer, chemical exposure, excessive noise, dust, vibrations, extreme temperatures, ladders, fuel storage, etc. |
| Compliance level | Major Must |
Source document: IFA for fruit and vegetables, v6 Smart, principles & criteria
What we claim: GLOBALG.A.P. standards provide producers with practical guidance to establish procedures that reduce safety hazards of the workers for farm workers. By implementing these measures, our standards can help create a safer and more secure working environment, thus mitigating the risk of accidents and injuries.
How we address it: Our standards include criteria on
adopting a procedure that systematically evaluates potential hazards before they can cause harm
adopting a procedure for the managing and control of the potential hazards detected
adopting an annual routine for self-assessment and subsequently taking effective corrective actions to address non-conformances where relevant
recognizing roles and responsibilities of workers whose jobs impact the implementation of the IFA standard - for example, one worker shall be appointed as the WHS responsible to raise the voice of workers’ needs and concerns in this area before management
implementing a training program for workers with assigned tasks (e.g. administering of chemicals, handling of product)
implementing a complaint handling procedure to facilitate and follow-up on complaints relating to the IFA standards
andimplementing a continuous improvement plan.
Why we address it: Once hazards have been identified, concrete steps must be taken to ensure that the hazards are reduced, and the safety of workers is enhanced at every opportunity. Implementing such procedures encourages measurable target setting for continuous improvements, therefore promoting a safer work environment.
Standards which include criteria on (aspect):
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA)
Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM)
Produce Handling Assurance (PHA)
| Ref | FV-SMART & GFS 20.01.02 AQ 04.01.02 FO 12.01.02 |
| Principle | The farm has health and safety procedures. |
| Criteria | The health and safety procedures shall address the points identified in the risk assessment and be appropriate to the farming operations. The procedures shall be reviewed annually and updated when the risk assessment changes. The farm infrastructure, facilities, on-farm worker housing, and equipment shall be constructed and maintained to minimize health and safety hazards for workers. |
| Compliance level | Major Must |
Source document: IFA for fruit and vegetables, v6 Smart, principles & criteria
What we claim: GLOBALG.A.P. standards aim to provide a tool to producers to help improve the effectiveness of procedures through training on safe working conditions.
How we address it: Our standards include criteria on:
adopting an annual routine for self-assessment (internal audit) as well as relevant site inspections, and subsequently taking effective corrective actions to address non-conformances where relevant in workers' health and safety
conducting an assessment on the procedures to minimize risk and ensure compliance with the relevant recommendation of the workers' health and safety committee or responsible
calibration of farming equipment, e.g. PPP sprayers to verify accurate operation and safety requirements
implementing a monitoring program to verify annual training for all staff, including owners and managers, as well as training for new employees and those reassigned to tasks requiring additional knowledge
Why we address it: Formal training based on risk assessments and verification programs can help confirm that management plans and controls are properly implemented, creating an environment with limited safety hazards. These programs form part of the ILO approach on workers safety and welfare that supports the IFA standards.
Standards which include criteria on (aspect):
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA)
Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM)
Produce Handling Assurance (PHA)
| Ref | FO 12.01.02 FO 12.01.03 |
| Principle | The farm has health and safety procedures All staff have received health and safety training according to the risk assessment. |
| Criteria | Basic training on workers’ health and safety shall: - Be provided annually to staff, including owners and managers - Be provided to new staff and to established staff whenever they are reassigned to tasks requiring additional knowledge - Cover all necessary instructions - Be given in a format, either written or verbal, that ensures understanding (may only be in verbal and pictorial form without written explanatory content, where appropriate) - Include training on safety procedures for equipment, products, or new activities - Include training on topics related to accident response, natural disasters, and workers’ health, including illnesses, exposure to chemicals, emergency response procedures, fire safety, and rights and responsibilities associated with workers’ health protection |
| Compliance level | Major Must |
Source document: IFA for fruit and vegetables, v6 Smart, principles & criteria
What we claim: GLOBALG.A.P. standards provide a tool to help producers establish effective communication channels. Fostering an open dialogue and understanding between management and workers in this way promotes a safer worker environment in which potential risks can be identified and addressed and all employees can access the necessary training and support to work safely.
How we address it: Our standards include criteria on:
adopting a system of representation and coordination in which the voice of workers is present. For example, requiring that a two-way exchange is established between management and workers through meetings, prework meetings or individual crew meetings with the worker in charge of workers’ health and safety and management.
opening channels of constant communication between producer and workers about the workers welfare and working conditions. For example, producers are obliged to inform the workers of their rights regarding occupational safety and provide a channel to resolve and discuss grievances in this area.
operating procedures to verify the compliance with the relevant workers recommendation through the health and safety committee or responsible.
providing constant training and checking on calibration of potential health hazard farming equipment. For example, accident and emergency procedures shall be displayed and communicated to all workers, with the instructions not only being made available (in the predominant language of the workers), but also discussed, practice and analysed.
Why we address it:
Effective communication is essential for building a culture of workplace safety. It is crucial for promoting workers’ health and safety within the framework developed by international organizations. Two-way communication fosters a positive safety culture where workers feel comfortable raising concerns about safety risks. In addition, management actively collaborates with workers to find solutions and create a safer working environment. For example, when developing safety protocols and managing risks, it’s important to consider the skills, experience, and training of the workers. Experienced workers may have different needs and capabilities compared to less experienced ones, and these factors should influence how risks are managed.
Standards which include criteria on (aspect):
Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA)
Compound Feed Manufacturing (CFM)
Produce Handling Assurance (PHA)
| Ref | FV 10.02 |
| Principle | Workers are informed of their rights related to the standard, and there is a grievance mechanism available and implemented through which workers can file complaints confidentially and without fear of retaliation |
| Criteria | Workers shall be informed (in the predominant workforce language) of the general topics covered by the standard, of legal rights granted by prevailing regulations, and of their ability to file complaints to their employer. The producer shall have a mechanism to resolve the claims and complaints suitable to the size of the farm, type of workers, and working conditions. The mechanism shall be confidential and simple to use, and a description (i.e., where to file, how to file, time expected to solve the issue) shall be available to the workers all the time that they are present on the farm. (The description can consist of pictograms or signs in the predominant workforce language describing the mechanism.) Records of the filed complaints shall be kept and checked. |
| Compliance level | Major Must |
Source document: IFA for fruit and vegetables, v6 Smart, principles & criteria
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GLOBALG.A.P. standard documents are publicly available, free of charge, and translated into multiple languages. They are developed through a transparent and comprehensive standard setting process that involves stakeholders from across the supply chain and includes scientific and technical expertise, field trials, and public consultation.