Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
This award recognizes individuals with outstanding achievement in the field of occupational health and safety outside the United States. Sanjiv Pandita has a long history of engaging on workers' rights issues in Asia, and is a well- known activist and recognized expert in occupational and environmental safety and health. Sanjiv has received several international awards, including from the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition in California, and recognition from EHS Today magazine as one of the “50 most influential Environmental, Health and Safety leaders” in 2008. He currently works as the Asian Regional Representative of the Swiss-based Solidar Suisse organization supporting grassroots organisations throughout Asia pursuing “decent and safe work.” Born and raised in Kashmir, Sanjiv started working with the Society for Participatory Research in Asia based in New Delhi, India, in 1997 on its Occupational and Environmental Health Programme. His work included providing support to workers in chemical industries in Gujarat, and the mines in Jharkhand and Rajasthan in India. In 2001, Sanjiv began work for the Asia Monitor Resource Centre, a regional labor organization based in Hong Kong and started to develop its regional OHS
programme. He led the organization as its Executive Director from 2008 to 2016. Sanjiv played an important role in the establishment of the Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV), a unique grassroots health and safety network in Asia. He has been essential in building global collaboration on OHS by bringing the Asian network closer to other networks such as the COSH network in the US, the European Work Hazards network, and OHS organizations in Africa. Sanjiv is currently also a leading member of the EU-based Electronics Watch (an independent organization protecting workers in the global electronics supply chain), the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN), the International Campaign for
Responsible Technology (a global OHS network working in the electronics sector), and the People’s Training and Research Center (a grassroots OHS network in India). Leslie Nickels (1953-2017) used her training as an educator and industrial hygienist to advance social justice for disenfranchised workers.
This award recognizes individuals with outstanding achievement in the field of occupational health and safety outside the United States. Sanjiv Pandita has a long history of engaging on workers' rights issues in Asia, and is a well- known activist and recognized expert in occupational and environmental safety and health. Sanjiv has received several international awards, including from the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition in California, and recognition from EHS Today magazine as one of the “50 most influential Environmental, Health and Safety leaders” in 2008. He currently works as the Asian Regional Representative of the Swiss-based Solidar Suisse organization supporting grassroots organisations throughout Asia pursuing “decent and safe work.” Born and raised in Kashmir, Sanjiv started working with the Society for Participatory Research in Asia based in New Delhi, India, in 1997 on its Occupational and Environmental Health Programme. His work included providing support to workers in chemical industries in Gujarat, and the mines in Jharkhand and Rajasthan in India. In 2001, Sanjiv began work for the Asia Monitor Resource Centre, a regional labor organization based in Hong Kong and started to develop its regional OHS
programme. He led the organization as its Executive Director from 2008 to 2016. Sanjiv played an important role in the establishment of the Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV), a unique grassroots health and safety network in Asia. He has been essential in building global collaboration on OHS by bringing the Asian network closer to other networks such as the COSH network in the US, the European Work Hazards network, and OHS organizations in Africa. Sanjiv is currently also a leading member of the EU-based Electronics Watch (an independent organization protecting workers in the global electronics supply chain), the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN), the International Campaign for
Responsible Technology (a global OHS network working in the electronics sector), and the People’s Training and Research Center (a grassroots OHS network in India). Leslie Nickels (1953-2017) used her training as an educator and industrial hygienist to advance social justice for disenfranchised workers.
