Industrialized countries have seen a clear decrease in the number of serious injuries as a result of structural changes in the nature of work and real improvements in making the workplace healthier and safer, including improved first aid and emergency care, according to the ILO report.
The evolving nature of work, however, has generated new occupational hazards, including musculo-skeletal disorders, stress and mental problems, asthmatic and allergic reactions and problems caused by exposure to hazardous and carcinogenic agents, such as asbestos, radiation and chemicals.
High cost of negligence
Although fatal occupational injuries caused by accidents ranked only third - after work-related cancer and circulatory diseases - as the main cause of deaths at work, fatalities due to accidents usually occur among workers who have a long working career ahead of them.
The economic costs of occupational and work-related injuries and diseases are rapidly increasing, the report said. While it is impossible to place a value on human life, compensation figures indicate that approximately four per cent of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disappears with the cost of diseases through absences from work, sickness treatment, disability and survivor benefits.
The evolving nature of work, however, has generated new occupational hazards, including musculo-skeletal disorders, stress and mental problems, asthmatic and allergic reactions and problems caused by exposure to hazardous and carcinogenic agents, such as asbestos, radiation and chemicals.
High cost of negligence
Although fatal occupational injuries caused by accidents ranked only third - after work-related cancer and circulatory diseases - as the main cause of deaths at work, fatalities due to accidents usually occur among workers who have a long working career ahead of them.
The economic costs of occupational and work-related injuries and diseases are rapidly increasing, the report said. While it is impossible to place a value on human life, compensation figures indicate that approximately four per cent of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disappears with the cost of diseases through absences from work, sickness treatment, disability and survivor benefits.