Workplace deaths up 12% worldwide in past two decades: report

Sydney — Global work-related deaths have jumped more than 12% since 2000, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.

In a new report based on 2019 data – the latest available – ILO estimates that over 2.9 million workers died on the job that year, with 395 million more suffering nonfatal injuries. The death total also marks an increase of more than 5% from 2015. 

Most of the deaths (2.6 million) have been linked to work-related diseases, while approximately 330,000 stemmed from injuries. The mortality rate was much higher for men (108.3 deaths per 100,000 workers) than women (48.4).

“Circulatory diseases, [cancer] and respiratory diseases rank among the top three causes of work-related death,” an ILO press release states. “Together, these three categories contribute more than three-quarters of total work-related mortality.”

About a third of the deaths involved agricultural workers. Agriculture, construction, forestry and fishing, and manufacturing account for 200,000 fatalities a year, or 63% of the total workplace deaths.

ILO recommends three strategies to reduce work-related deaths and injuries:

• Improve national occupational safety and health frameworks by enhancing governance, promoting reliable data and building competency.
• Strengthen coordination, partnerships and investment in OSH at national and global levels.
• Enhance workplace OSH management systems by promoting ILO-OSH 2001 principles; develop gender-transformative guidance; and tailor it to specific hazards, risks, sectors and occupations.