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Every worker should be able to return home from work safe. Yet around the world, preventable workplace injuries and deaths continue to devastate individuals, families and communities. RoSPA’s research looks beyond individual hazards to examine a deeper question: how do social and economic inequalities shape exposure to workplace harm?

RoSPA analysed data from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s World Risk Poll to explore people’s experiences and perceptions of safety at work. By comparing workplace injury data with social and economic indicators, we identified which groups of workers face the greatest risks and where inequalities are most pronounced.

This report highlights the scale of global workplace accidents, shows where risk is greatest, and invites RoSPA members, partners and the public to share practical ideas for action. Together, we can create fairer, safer working environments for people everywhere.

Find out more in our video:

Read our full report, Danger on the job: How global inequality shapes workplace harm, here. [Link] 

Why inequality matters

Workplace safety is often discussed in terms of visible hazards, compliance systems and training. These remain essential, but they do not tell the whole story. A worker’s risk of death or serious injury is also shaped by income, education, job security, employment type, gender, national income and the strength of labour protections.

For some workers, unsafe conditions are compounded by limited bargaining power, informal employment, weak regulation, poor enforcement, or a lack of access to safety information and equipment. Workplace harm is not distributed evenly, and the people most exposed to risk are often those with the fewest resources to prevent, challenge or recover from accidents.

Every year, 395 million people are injured at work - more than the entire population of the United States. If injury rates in lower-income countries were reduced to match those in wealthier nations, an estimated 2 million lives could be saved - and over 750 billion dollars in economic losses prevented every year.

 

What are the key findings from the data? 

  • The Western Pacific Region is the highest-risk region, with an estimated 37 per cent of workers reporting having experienced harm themselves or knowing someone who has experienced harm in the last two years 
  • Europe, the Americas, and the Eastern Mediterranean report the lowest rates of experienced harm, all sitting between 21 per cent and 22 per cent

  • Workers in high-income countries are around half as likely to experience, or know someone who has experienced, a serious workplace injury in the past two years than someone in a low-income country. 
  • The ceiling effect: Personal income alone cannot guarantee safety. Its protective effect depends on the wider regulatory and workplace systems around it. In poor countries, even the top 20 per cent of earners remain at high risk. 
  • Female workers report around 18 per cent lower odds of being injured than their male counterparts. This gap is most pronounced in lower-income countries and narrows in wealthy countries. 

Why this research matters

Accidents do not have to happen. Understanding who is most at risk is the first step towards preventing serious harm. This research provides a stronger evidence base for employers, policymakers, safety professionals and international partners who want to make workplace safety more inclusive, effective and fair.

For organisations operating across borders, the findings underline the importance of consistent standards and responsible supply chains. For safety leaders, they highlight the need to look beyond compliance and ask whether current systems protect the workers who may be least visible or least able to speak up. For RoSPA members, the research creates an opportunity to turn insight into action.

Interested in reading more about our research? 

Read the full report