A new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has revealed that work-related accidents and diseases kill about three million employees yearly.

It said the development underscores the need to safeguard health and safety of workers globally.

According to the organisation, most of the deaths, totalling 2.6 million, stem from illnesses, while accidents account for some 330,000 fatalities.

Circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms and respiratory ailments rank among the top three causes of work-related deaths.

Together, ILO said these three categories contribute more than three-quarters of total work-related mortalities.

The fresh data, included in ILO’s ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Work Environments’ would be presented at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, one of the largest international conferences on the subject, holding in Sydney, Australia from November 27-30.

The report observed that work-related deaths are unequally distributed, with male mortality rate (108.3 per 100,000 in the labour force) being significantly higher than the female rate (48.4 per 100,000).

The Asia and Pacific region has the highest work-related mortality (63 per cent of the global total) because of the size of its workforce.

Agriculture, construction, forestry, fishing and manufacturing are the most hazardous sectors, accounting for 200,000 injuries yearly.

ILO estimated that 395 million workers worldwide sustained slight injuries, damaging workers’ health and causing absence from work.

To boost global efforts for a safer and healthier work environment, the global agency’s governing body has adopted the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health for 2024 to 2030.

The goal is to promote, respect and progressively realise the fundamental right to better workplace that promotes social justice.