Safety and health at work

Every 15 seconds, a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease.

Every 15 seconds, 160 workers have a work-related accident.

Every day, 6,300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases – more than 2.3 million deaths per year. Over 337 million accidents occur on the job annually; many of these resulting in extended absences from work.

The human cost of this daily adversity is vast and the economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product each year.

The safety and health conditions at work are very different between countries, economic sectors and social groups. Deaths and injuries take a particularly heavy toll in developing countries, where a large part of the population is engaged in hazardous activities, such as agriculture, fishing and mining. Throughout the world, the poorest and least protected - often women, children and migrants - are among the most affected.

The ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment, SafeWork, aims to create worldwide awareness of the dimensions and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases. SafeWork's goal is to place the health and safety of all workers on the international agenda; and to stimulate and support practical action at all levels.

Decent work is safe work.