Occupational safety and health (OSH) in Nepal: current situation and way forward

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is recognized as a fundamental human right and principle at work by the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Constitution of Nepal upholds the rights of workers to live with dignity in their workplaces.  Ensuring proper workplace safety is crucial for enhancing efficiency and productivity across all sectors, particularly in developing countries where workers often face significant safety challenges in hazardous sectors. This paper presents a Nepal’s OSH landscape, including its existing policies, institutional mechanisms and prevailing gaps and ways to enhance OSH in workplace.

Methods: A qualitative review of relevant literature, policy documents, and government reports was conducted to analyze the development and current status of OSH in Nepal. The study also examines the effectiveness of existing institutional frameworks and identifies key challenges.

Results: Findings indicate that while Nepal has made progress in establishing OSH policies and legal frameworks, significant gaps remain in implementation, enforcement, and awareness. Government initiatives have been launched to improve OSH, but these efforts are often hampered by limited resources, insufficient training, and lack of preventive approaches.

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to strengthen Nepal’s OSH systems through actionable policy measures, legal reforms, and research-based interventions. Emphasis should be placed on preventive strategies, comprehensive training, awareness activities, and education to ensure safer workplaces.