No fewer than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to workplace risks, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization.
The report highlights growing concerns around the impact of modern work conditions on both physical and mental health.
It identified key risk factors, including long working hours, job insecurity, workplace harassment, and bullying.
What the report is saying
The study, titled “The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action,” noted that the way jobs are designed, organised, and managed significantly affects workers’ health and safety.
According to the ILO, these risks are increasingly contributing to serious health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, including suicide.
The report analysed three key areas: the nature of the job, how work is organised and managed, and broader workplace policies such as performance systems and protections against harassment.
It estimated the annual death toll by linking workplace risk factors with global health data from the World Health Organization and findings from the Global Burden of Disease study.
More insights
The ILO warned that ongoing workplace transformations, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, remote work, and evolving job structures, could intensify existing risks if not properly managed.
Manal Azzi, Team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO, said psychosocial risks are now a major challenge in workplace safety
- “Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work.”
- “Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organisational performance and sustainable economic development,” said Manal Azzi.
The report emphasised that many of these deaths are preventable if employers and governments address root causes and integrate psychosocial risk management into occupational safety systems.
It also called for stronger collaboration between governments, employers, and workers to create safer and healthier work environments that benefit both workers and organisations.
What you should know
The latest findings add to a growing body of evidence linking workplace conditions to serious health risks.
In a joint study, the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization estimated that 745,000 people died in 2016 alone from stroke and heart disease linked to working long hours, representing a 29% increase since 2000.
The report found that working 55 hours or more per week significantly raises health risks, increasing the likelihood of stroke by 35% and death from heart disease by 17% compared to standard working hours.
Long working hours now account for about one-third of the total global work-related disease burden, making it the largest occupational risk factor.
The number of people working long hours is increasing, and currently stands at 9% of the total population globally. This trend puts even more people at risk of work-related disability and early death.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said this trend is accelerated by remote work and changes in workplace structures since the COVID-19 pandemic.
