First observance of World Disaster Preparedness Day on Nov. 8

World Safety Organization, an international professional organization which seeks to raise the standards of safety in occupational and environmental safety and accident prevention and other fields, declared Nov. 8 as the first World Disaster Preparedness Day during the recently concluded 28th WSO International Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Development symposium at Solaire Resort and Casino, Manila.

Since it is imperative to ensure safety at all times, WSO has been pushing to improve the safety and health of workers by maintaining an accident and illness-free workplace, improving their quality of life and enabling them to have more fun while being safe. This time, WSO, with the combined efforts of its members and partner organizations, is putting into calendar Nov. 8 as the official World Disaster Preparedness Day, which remembers the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Philippines.

“Natural calamities are unpredictable,” said Alfredo A. Dela Rosa Jr., WSO International Office for Philippines director. “Two years ago, the Philippines was faced with one of the most tragic calamities ever recorded in world history. Are we truly ready for those kinds of natural disasters?”

WSO forwarded the petition to the United Nations, the International Labor Organization, World Health Organization and similar policy-making groups on the local, national and global levels to recognize Nov. 8 as the official celebration of the World Disaster Preparedness Day.

WSO chief executive officer Lon McDaniel said the organization has developed new certification programs for the extensive reference of over 160 countries.