World Day for Safety and Health at Work – 28 April 2008

My life, my work, my safe work - Managing risk in the work environment

People everywhere are exposed to safety and health risks from their work. The ILO estimates that some 6,000 workers die each day worldwide as a result of work-related accidents or illness. And occupationally related deaths appear to be on the rise. Moreover, each year there are an estimated 270 million non-fatal work-related accidents (each resulting in at least three days’ absence from work) as well as 160 million new cases of work-related diseases. The total cost of such accidents and ill health have been estimated by the ILO to equal 4 per cent of global GDP, or more than 20 times the global amount of official development assistance.

Occupational safety and health is of worldwide concern to governments, employers, workers and their families. While some industries are inherently more hazardous than others, groups such as migrant or other marginalized workers are often more at risk of experiencing work-related accidents.