Data reveals 18% of workers experience workplace harm globally

As reported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the latest World Risk Poll shows that 18% of workers worldwide have experienced harm at work.

This finding is based on data collected through 147,000 interviews across 142 countries, revealing a steady rate of workplace harm since 2019.

The findings are detailed in the foundation’s report Engineering safer workplaces: Global trends in occupational safety and health, which highlights varying harm rates across industries and regions.

Fishing was identified as the most hazardous occupation globally, followed by construction and mining.

Countries with lower income levels also reported higher workplace harm rates, with 19% of workers in low-income and 22% in lower-middle-income countries affected.

Low rates of health and safety training remain a concern

The report shows a major gap in occupational safety and health (OSH) training, with 62% of workers globally never having received safety training.

Part-time workers are particularly affected, with only 23% having undergone training in the last two years compared to 41% of full-time employees.

Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, emphasised the need for better interventions: “Low reporting rates, combined with a potential lack of awareness due to low training rates, mean that the true extent of workplace harm is rarely revealed.”

Part-time workers at higher risk of workplace harm

The report also found that part-time workers face greater risks.

These employees are more likely to experience harm than full-time workers, with 20% of part-time workers reporting harm compared to 15% of full-time employees.

The lower levels of training among part-time workers further compound the risk.

The foundation’s findings suggest that OSH training not only helps to prevent harm but also encourages workers to report incidents.

Workers who received safety training within the past two years are more than three times as likely to report harm compared to those who have not received any training.

Workplace harm reporting remains low

Despite the risks, the report shows that only 51% of workers who experienced harm reported the incident.

Reporting rates are lower among part-time and self-employed workers, with 49% and 47%, respectively, reporting workplace harm.

However, the likelihood of reporting increases significantly with recent OSH training.

Martin Cottam, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 283, stated: “It is shocking to be confronted with the fact that a majority of the global workforce has never received any occupational safety and health training.”

Global safety charity urges for better health and safety training as 18% of global workers report workplace harm: Summary

According to the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, 18% of workers worldwide have experienced workplace harm, a figure that has remained steady since 2019.

The report highlights a significant gap in occupational safety and health training, with 62% of workers globally having never received training.

Part-time workers are particularly affected, with higher harm rates and lower training participation compared to full-time employees.

The data also reveals that regular OSH training significantly increases the likelihood of workers reporting incidents of harm.

Industry leaders have called for urgent improvements in workplace safety measures to address these risks and improve reporting practices across all sectors.