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7 min ago 2 min read
Global institutions should implement robust occupational safety and health (OSH) standards across their supply chains and throughout all tiers where risks may be greatest, according to a report from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Workers in the world’s poorest countries were found to have more than twice the odds of serious harm than those in wealthier countries.
“If injury rates in lower-income countries were reduced to match those in wealthy nations, an estimated two million lives would be saved and over $750bn in economic losses prevented every year,” it stated.
The western Pacific region was the highest risk region, led by China, Vietnam and Philippines, with an estimated 37% of workers reporting having experienced harm themselves or knowing someone who has experienced harm in the last two years. Africa was second (31%), although it acknowledged the figure “is likely understated”, and southeast Asia third (30%).
The eastern Mediterranean region (21.7%), Europe (21.3%), and the Americas region (21%) all recorded very similar rates of workplace harm. However, these regional averages mask substantial differences between countries.
The report calls on national governments to prioritise the implementation and enforcement of building codes, equipment standards and sector-specific OSH regulations in industries with the highest rates of injury.
The global oil and gas industry is historically classified as one of the most hazardous industrial sectors, though strict regulatory oversight and advanced engineering have driven a long-term decline in fatality and injury rates.
Safety was firmly spotlight in June after an explosion during the in Qatar led to the loss of 13 lives and injured 66 workers.
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