Is your job killing you? Long working hours, workplace pollution can shorten lifespan

Hyderabad: In 2016, work-related diseases and injuries claimed the lives of a staggering 1.9 million people worldwide, according to a groundbreaking joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

This eye-opening study, titled ‘WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury, 2000-2016: Global Monitoring Report’, shines a spotlight on the urgent need to prioritise the health and safety of workers across the globe.

Heart issues led to most deaths

According to the report, non-communicable diseases took a heavy toll, accounting for a shocking 81 per cent of these work-related deaths. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, and ischemic heart disease emerged as the leading causes, responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths each.

Tragically, occupational injuries contributed to 19 per cent of these fatalities, amounting to 360,000 lives lost. The report identified 19 occupational risk factors, including prolonged working hours, workplace air pollution exposure, asthmagens, carcinogens, ergonomic hazards, and noise.

Alarmingly, the most significant risk factor was exposure to long working hours, linked to approximately 750,000 deaths. Workplace air pollution, including particulate matter, gases, and fumes, was responsible for an additional 450,000 deaths.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, expressed his shock at the findings, stating, “It’s shocking to see so many people literally being killed by their jobs.” He called upon countries and businesses to fulfil their commitments to providing universal coverage of occupational health and safety services.

Public healthcare and productivity took a toll

The consequences of work-related diseases and injuries extend beyond individual tragedy. They strain healthcare systems, reduce productivity, and can have a catastrophic impact on household incomes. In light of these dire implications, urgent action is required.

While there has been a 14 per cent reduction in work-related deaths per population between 2000 and 2016, there has been an alarming increase in deaths from heart disease and stroke associated with long working hours, rising by 41 and 19 per cent, respectively.

This underscores the need to address emerging psychosocial occupational risk factors. The joint report provides policymakers with crucial data to track work-related health issues at various levels, from country to global. It emphasised the importance of creating healthier, safer, and more socially just workplaces through workplace health promotion and occupational health services.

Experts advocate for shorter working hours

Indian specialists have also weighed in on this global crisis. Dr Rajesh Kumar, a leading occupational health expert, stressed the importance of tailored preventive actions: “Each risk factor has a unique set of preventive actions. For instance, limiting exposure to long working hours requires defining healthy maximum limits on working time, while reducing workplace air pollution demands dust control, ventilation, and personal protective equipment.”

Dr Priya Sharma, a public health advocate, added, “These almost two million premature deaths are preventable. We need to take action based on available research to address evolving work-related health threats. Health and labour sectors must work hand in hand, leaving no workers behind in this shared responsibility.”

Vera Paquete-Perdigao, director of the Governance and Tripartism Department at ILO, emphasised that “International labour standards and WHO/ILO tools and guidelines provide a solid basis to implement strong, effective, and sustainable occupational safety and health systems at different levels.”

Covid increased burden

A disproportionate number of work-related deaths occur in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, primarily affecting males and individuals aged over 54 years. It is essential to address these disparities and implement targeted interventions.

The report also acknowledges that the total work-related burden of disease is likely much larger, with several other occupational risk factors yet to be quantified. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic added an additional layer of complexity to this already pressing issue.

The WHO/ILO joint report served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritise worker health and safety on a global scale.

As specialists and policymakers in India and around the world unite in their call to action, it is imperative that governments, employers, and workers collaborate to reduce occupational health risks and eliminate the preventable tragedy of work-related diseases and injuries.