While the daily rate of fatal accidents at the work place has decreased to 4.5 in December 2015, from 5 in 2014, work-related ailments engulf employees six times more than work-related accidents.
The most common occupational health disorders are musculoskeletal problems, respiratory diseases, noise induced hearing loss, and occupational injuries.
The occupational health and safety (OHS) system in Iran is mainly regulated by two bodies, the Health Ministry, responsible for occupational health services and legislations, and the Labor Ministry, which undertakes the enactment and enforcement of occupational safety legal issues.
Inspectorates in each ministry carry out regular health and safety monitoring according to the OHS legislations, said Muhammad Esabati, director general of the inspection office at the Labor Ministry, Fararu news website reported. “According to statistics provided by the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, on average, 5.5 people lost their lives to work-related accidents in 2013 and the number fell to 5 in 2014. It stood at 4.5 in the first six months of the current Iranian year (began March 21),” he said.
The rate of workplace accidents saw an 18.5% drop compared to the same period last year. Such accidents have lessened in 16 provinces, remained unchanged in six, and increased in nine provinces, based on surveys conducted.
“For instance, the rate has gone down 46% in Markazi Province compared to last year,” he said.
According to the latest data by the Statistical Center of Iran, the labor force in Iran constituted 24.5 million in spring this year. Law stipulates that any accident that occurs should be reported to the local social security fund within three days.
Lacking
More than 90% of work-related injuries occur in manufacturing units with a labor force of less than 25 individuals. The smaller units often lack a technical and health protection committee.
Most of the job-related deaths are in the construction sector and nearly 50% are related to workers falling from heights. The highest percentage of fatalities occurs in the age group 25-34 years.
Today, occupational hazards are one of the most important issues in the industrial world. Due to lack of a suitable system for registration and reporting, particularly in developing countries, there are no accurate statistics of occupational accidents the world over.
But according to the International Labor Organization, every 15 seconds a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease. Every 15 seconds, 153 workers have a work-related accident.
Every day, 6,300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases – more than 2.3 million deaths per year. Nearly 317 million accidents occur on the job annually; many of these resulting in extended absence from work. The human cost of this daily adversity is vast and the economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4% of GDP each year.
Caption: More than 90% of work-related injuries occur in manufacturing plants with a labor force of less than 25 individuals.
