Our branch campus in Cuenca held the first conference on "Occupational Health and Safety" organized by the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute and the National Office of Occupational Safety. The speakers were Cristian Díaz, director of the risk and disasters management undergraduate program, and Klever Ochoa, from the university's department of safety, health and the environment.

Díaz presented the conference: "Risk and disaster management in companies". He spoke about the importance of managing risks presented in a company and changing the general vision that a risk is the probability that an event could occur to the new perspective that risk is the effect of uncertainty related to the company's objectives. He also recommended the use of AIDEP tools applied to risk management: Alarm, Communications, Coordination, Primary Evaluation, Decisions, Secondary Evaluation and readjustment of the plan.

Ochoa presented the topic "Management of occupational safety and health, ISO 45001" and explained that the international labor organization estimated that 2.3 million people die each year due to work related accidents and illnesses.

He said that "an organization is responsible for its worker's health and safety, it must protect their mental and physical health. A company's occupational health and safety system will enable a company to improve its performance". 

The conference was attended by employers, workers and people in academia with the aim of creating a culture that seeks to prevent work accidents. Similar conferences will soon be held in Guayaquil, Machala, Quito and Ibarra.