Workplace Fatality

When an accident occurs at work, it is a time of extreme trauma and grief for the next of kin and family members who have lost a family member in an accident. The ILO estimates that around 2.3 million women and men worldwide are the victims of industrial accidents or occupational diseases yearly; this equates to more than 6,000 deaths daily. About 340 million industrial accidents and 160 million victims of occupational diseases occur annually in the world.

The number of fatal occupational accidents in the CIS countries is estimated to be over 11,000, compared to 5,850 reported cases. Gross underreporting of accidents at work and occupational diseases, including fatal accidents, gives a false impression of the magnitude of the problem.

Some of the main findings of recent ILO statistics on work-related accidents, diseases, and deaths at the global level include the following:

• Work-related illnesses cause the highest number of deaths among workers.

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• Hazardous substances alone are estimated to cause 651,279 deaths per year.

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• The construction industry has a disproportionately high rate of reported accidents.

Young and old workers are especially vulnerable. Population aging in developed countries means that an increasing number of older people are working and need special attention.

In the long term, the rate of fatal injuries among workers has shown a declining trend. However, this figure has generally remained unchanged in recent years, leading up to the Coronavirus pandemic. The current level is broadly in line with pre-corona virus levels.

An occupational accident is a death that occurs while a person is at work or performing work-related tasks. Working fatalities are also commonly referred to as "occupational deaths" or "work-related deaths" and can occur in any industry or profession.

Common causes of occupational deaths are falls, machine accidents, traffic accidents, electric shocks, falling objects, homicides, and suicides. Often, accidents at work can be prevented.

Workplace fatalities are preventable. The prevention of accidents at work depends on the understanding that the safety of workers is not only the employee's responsibility but also the employer's primary responsibility. Employers should train all employees in appropriate safety procedures and maintain a safe work environment to reduce the chance of accidents. A work accident is not only the fault of the deceased worker; it is the combination of unsafe work environments, inadequate safety training, and little oversight by employees that contributes to fatal accidents. As a result, an employer must consider all potential risk factors in the workplace and educate all employees on safe work practices and risk awareness.

To perform an adequate assessment of the risk of injuries occurring in the workplace, occupational health and safety professionals use resources such as the Haddon Matrix. This model evaluates the risks leading up to, during, and after death to prevent future incidents of a similar nature. Employers and employees can learn to identify risk factors in their work environments to avoid incidents that could result in death.