Elsevier

Safety Science

Volume 44, Issue 2, February 2006, Pages 137-156
Safety Science

Global estimates of occupational accidents

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2005.08.017Get rights and content

Abstract

Information of occupational accidents is not standardized worldwide. Especially, developing countries do not have reliable information on their occupational accidents due to lack of proper recording and notification systems. The number of accidents is under-reported but figures are still used as a baseline for occupational safety work. In this paper global estimates of occupational accidents are presented for 175 countries. These estimates are based on figures from selected countries in eight different regions. Global estimates help to compare different countries and regions to each other to detect improvements in safety and safety work. In 1998 the average estimated number of fatal occupational accidents was 350 000 and there were 264 million non-fatal accidents. Global estimates are needed to guide national policies and decision-making.

Introduction

The figures of occupational accidents are published annually in many countries but reliable data is available only in a limited number of countries, and the information is not standardized. Figures of accidents in developing countries are not based on proper accident recording and notification systems. Global figures for occupational accidents are missing while some regions such as the European Union have successfully combined accident figures of member states of EU. In 1999 the International Labour Organization (ILO) published estimates of occupational accidents that where based on the figures gathered from selected ILO member states. These estimates were based on year 1994 figures. The average estimated fatal occupational accident rate was 14.0/100 000 workers and the number of fatal accidents was 335 000 (Takala, 1999).

Global estimates by ILO show that the occupational problems are bigger than earlier believed. Especially, figures of occupational fatal and non-fatal accidents in developing countries were greatly underestimated. Also a recent study from US has shown that between 33% and 69% of all occupational injuries were missed of the reported injuries (Leigh et al., 2004). Previous global estimates have been based on existing information from industrialized countries. The fatality rate and absolute number of fatalities for developing countries were calculated based on regional estimates. However, studies from different countries have shown that a ratio between fatal and non-fatal accident is quite constant if accurate recording systems exist (Dupré, 2001, Takala, 1999).

The difference in accident rates between developed and developing countries is remarkable. While many enterprises in developed countries are taking zero accident policy for their goal, construction of infrastructure and industrialization in developing countries bring new situations to surface. Enterprises in developing countries are unable to identify their hazards. Furthermore, nowadays many enterprises operate in several regions and countries and this often makes accident prevention programmes more challenging and occupational safety and health management systems in corporate context should take into account cultural differences (Larsson, 2000).

Occupational accidents cause direct and indirect or hidden costs for the whole society. A popular way to demonstrate this is the iceberg model. There are many variations of the proportion of the costs but usually the proportion of indirect costs is much bigger than direct costs. On the other hand, these economic calculations are made in industrialized countries that have established specific compensation and social security systems. Often in developing countries an accident which occurs in the work place does not cause direct costs. Also in small and middle size enterprises the proportion of hidden costs is not so big (Andreoni, 1986, Larsson and Betts, 1996).

A commonly used argument is also that poor countries and companies cannot afford safety and health measures. There is no evidence that any country or company in the long run would have benefited from a low level of safety and health. On the contrary, recent studies by the ILO based on information from the World Economic Forum (2002) and the Lausanne Institute of Management IMD demonstrate that the most competitive countries are also the safest. Selecting a low-safety, low-health and low-income survival strategy is not likely to lead to high competitiveness or sustainability (ILO Safety in numbers, 2003).

The research presented in this paper was carried out during years 2001–2002. The aim was to update the latest ILO estimates regarding occupational accidents and to add estimates of work-related diseases. These estimates are based on accident figures from the year 1998. The results can be used as a guide for national policy and decision-making. Countries can compare their figures to their own calculations or estimates as well as the figures of other countries in the same region. The estimates should motivate for better occupational safety work. One aim for this research was to revise and correct the figures for each individual country. Moreover, ILO supports member states to develop and improve their recording systems. There is also a need for international standardization of accident recording system. In this article only results of occupational accidents are dealt with.

Section snippets

Methods and materials

In this article occupational accident is defined as an occurrence arising out of or in the course of work which result in: (a) fatal occupational injury, or (b) non-fatal occupational injury (ILO Code of Practice, 1996). Occupational injury means death, any personal injury or disease resulting from an occupational accident. Often the term occupational accident is understood as a sudden, external and involuntary event. In this study occupational accidents are divided into fatal accidents and

Results

Estimates show that occupational accidents are a big problem in the world. There were near 350 000 fatalities in 1998 (Table 2). Every day some 970 people die because of occupational accidents. It was estimated that over 260 million occupational accidents took place during the year 1998. Thus, for every fatal occupational accident over 760 accidents occur that cause at least 3 days’ absence from work.

The accidents reported to ILO comprised only 3.9% for the estimated accidents that took place in

Discussion

New estimates show that more occupational accidents happen yearly than were estimated earlier. However, figures for fatal accidents (350 000) were fairly stable and only slightly rising: rising in developing and decreasing in industrialized countries. The average figure for occupational accidents was estimated to be 264 million accidents yearly, so more than 700 000 workers a day suffer an accident which causes absence of three days or more. The proportion of reported accidents to ILO is only

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