One important reason for the emergence of occupational health and safety management system is the need for global economic globalization and international trade development. The fundamental principle of the WTO is "fair competition", which includes environmental and occupational health and safety issues. The Uruguay Round negotiation agreement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, predecessor of the World Trade Organization) proposed that "countries should not create non-tariff barriers and unfair trade due to differences in regulations and standards, and should adopt international standards as much as possible". Developed countries such as Europe and America have proposed that the unfairness caused by developing countries investing less in improving labor conditions and reducing their production costs is unacceptable. They have begun to take coordinated actions to exert pressure and impose restrictive measures on developing countries.

Both North America and Europe have stipulated in their free trade zone agreements that "only countries and regions that adopt the same occupational health and safety standards can participate in international trade activities in the trade zone." In other words, products produced by companies in countries and regions that do not implement unified occupational health standards cannot be sold in North America and Europe.

China has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and enjoys the same treatment as other member countries in international trade. Occupational health and safety issues have the potential and enormous impact on China's social and economic development. Therefore, it is necessary to vigorously promote the occupational health and safety management system in China.