Work-related death toll reaches 2.2 million worldwide
Some 2.2 million people worldwide die of work-related accidents and occupational diseases each year, according to a new report prepared by the United Nations’ International Labour Office (ILO) and presented this week at the 17th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.
The report, “Decent Work – Safe Work,†says the 2.2 million figure may be vastly under-estimated due to poor reporting and differing recording criteria from country to country. While the number of work-related illnesses and deaths has lessened somewhat in industrialized countries, the ILO report said the number of accidents — especially fatal accidents — appear to be increasing, particularly in some Asian countries, due to rapid development and the strong competitive pressures of globalization.