International Labour Organisation tackles work related injuries

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7518.656-f

BMJ 2005;331:656 (24 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7518.656-f

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International Labour Organisation tackles work related injuries

Geneva John Zarocostas

Every year about 2.2 million people die from unintentional injuries at work and work related diseases, estimates the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The latest findings based on 2001 figures, the latest year with internationally comparable data, represents a 10% increase over similar measurements that used 1998 data.

Jukka Takala, director of the ILO�s safe work programme, and author of the report, told the BMJ that he believes that the current death rate "would be at least 5-10% higher over the 2001 figures."

The ILO report cautions that the numbers may be "vastly" under estimated since under-reporting is common in many countries and not all categories of workers are always included.

"No country records and compensates all occupational accidents and diseases, although data for occupational accidents are more comprehensive than those for occupational disabilities," it adds.

For example, in 2001 India reported only 222 fatal accidents, substantially less . . . [Full text of this article]

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