UN report: Work-related diseases kill more people than work-related accidents
In addition to death toll, financial cost is enormous
A new report from the United Nations calls for “urgent and vigorous” action to address the issue of work-related diseases, which kill approximately two million people around the world each year. About 160 million more are afflicted by non-fatal occupational illnesses.
In a statement marking the report’s release issued in time for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General, Guy Ryder, warned that occupational diseases have a profound impact on the productivity of companies and the lives of workers and their families.