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World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

A world without fatal work accidents is possible

Press release | 25 August 2014
GENEVA - A world without fatal or serious occupational accidents is possible, the organizers of the XX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work 2014 have appealed, as the largest global occupational safety event opened in Frankfurt, Germany on Monday 25 August.

Nearly 4,000 occupational safety experts, politicians and scientists from 141 countries will, until Wednesday evening, be discussing ways of making work safer and healthier. The triennial Congress is coorganized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA), and is hosted this year by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).

According to the ILO, 2.3 million people worldwide die annually as a result of occupational illnesses and accidents at work. In addition, there are 860,000 occupational accidents every day, with consequences in terms of injuries. The direct or indirect cost of occupational illness and accidents at work is estimated at US$2.8 trillion worldwide.

“These figures are unacceptable and yet these daily tragedies often fail to show up on the global radar. Clearly, there is still much to be done. Serious occupational accidents are, firstly, human tragedies but economies and society also pay a high price,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. “The right to a safe and healthy workplace is a basic human right – a right to be respected at every level of development and in different economic conditions. Respecting this human right is an obligation – as well as a condition for sustainable economic development. Prevention is possible, it is necessary and it pays.”

“Investment in risk prevention has led to remarkable socioeconomic benefits,” declared ISSA President Errol Frank Stoové, referring to a recent ISSA study that calculates the return on investments in prevention as averaging more than twice the amount invested. However, with a dramatically changing world of work, the health and well-being of workers remain a concern, in particular due to mental and ergonomic strain. This requires that we develop new, integrated strategies for prevention, which connect the safety, health and well-being of the individual.”

“Vision Zero is no ivory tower idea. It’s feasible,” is the view of Dr Joachim Breuer. The Managing Director of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) pointed to the occupational accident statistics for DGUV. “A hundred years ago in Germany there were 10,000 deaths a year at work. Last year the figure was less than 500 deaths for the first time.” The number of reportable accidents had been halved in the past 20 years alone. “This success is not just specific to Germany – it’s repeatable. Experience and many examples from our international cooperation efforts have shown us this,” Dr Breuer stated.

Dr Walter Eichendorf, President of the 2014 World Congress, added: “Solutions to occupational safety problems are being developed worldwide. There are examples of best practice, with measures being tested and evaluated in the most diverse of countries. The exchange of ideas at the World Congress prevents anyone from having to start again from zero.”

Press contacts:


German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV)
Press office
Stefan Boltz
Tel.: +49 174 179 5682
Fax: 030 288763771
E-Mail: presse@dguv.de

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Senior Communication Officer for Europe and Central Asia
Stefan Giffeler
Tel.: +49 17 1419 8295
E-Mail: giffeler@ilo.org

International Social Security Association (ISSA)
Promotion Unit
Alexander Belopopsky
Tel.: +41 79 773 0866
E-Mail: belopopsky@ilo.org