Global report also reveals 62% of workers never received OHS training
A recent report from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation unveils concerning insights into global workplace safety, revealing that nearly half (49%) of workplace harm incidents are unreported. The findings, part of the 2024 World Risk Poll, highlight the challenges faced by global workers, with 18%—or approximately 667 million people—reporting harm over the past two years, yet most lack formal health and safety training.
The World Risk Poll, conducted by Gallup for the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, surveyed 147,000 individuals across 142 countries, examining trends and gaps in occupational safety and health (OSH) globally. The findings underscore persistent safety risks, particularly in high-hazard industries such as fishing, construction, and mining, and within lower-income regions where reported harm rates reach as high as 22%.
The study reveals a striking deficit in safety training, with nearly two-thirds (62%) of the global workforce never having received OSH training. Nancy Hey, director of evidence and insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, emphasizes that this training gap contributes to underreporting and can obscure the full extent of workplace harm. “Low reporting rates, combined with a potential lack of awareness due to low training rates, mean that the true extent of workplace harm is rarely revealed,” says Hey. She adds, “safety and health interventions that are both regular and tailored must be a priority for both businesses and policymakers, along with clear reporting tools for all employees.”
For part-time employees, the report finds an even lower likelihood of training and a higher likelihood of harm, with only 23% of part-time workers receiving safety training in the past two years, compared to 41% of full-time employees. Additionally, those with recent OSH training are 3.3 times more likely to report incidents compared to those who have never received any.
Martin Cottam, chair of the ISO technical committee on occupational health and safety management, reflects on the need for enhanced safety practices: “The World Risk Poll results make sobering reading for all those working to encourage better occupational health and safety performance, as they highlight the scale of the ongoing challenge,” he states. Cottam is particularly struck by the data showing that “a majority of the global workforce has never received any occupational safety and health training,” even as advanced methods and tools for reducing workplace harm become more readily available.
The report calls on global policymakers and businesses to expand access to OSH training and implement more robust reporting mechanisms, especially for vulnerable populations in part-time or informal employment. The data, including region- and demographic-specific insights, is intended to guide targeted, evidence-based initiatives aimed at mitigating workplace risks.
