EU-OSHA and ILO present new estimates for the costs of work-related accidents and injuries at the XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.

According to current estimates by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), work-related accidents and injuries cost the EU €476 billion every year. The majority of these costs are attributable to work-related cancers (€119.5 billion or 0.81% of the EU’s GDP), followed by musculoskeletal disorders. 

 

A new data visualisation tool has also been developed which highlights the global costs of work-related injuries and illnesses (approx. €2,680 billion). The tool uses infographics to allow users to quickly and easily find information and data. There is also a glossary of frequently used terms and a guide to the methods used. 

Background

The estimates are based on a project on the costs and benefits of OSH. The project was carried out by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), the WSH Institute in Singapore, the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and EU-OSHA. The aim is for the data to be available worldwide for appraisal and evaluation. The project, its findings and the data visualisation tool were presented at the XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Singapore which took place between 3-6 September.