Workplace Hazards

Workplace hazards are the possible causes of physical or mental problems for people working in any particular place. They range from exposure to hazardous chemicals, excessively loud noise, psychological stress, and workplace violence or discrimination. Workplace hazards cause large numbers of deaths and injuries every year. It is estimated that some two million people die from workplacecaused hazards annually, and another 160 million become subject to a disease stemming from their work. Since prevention of accidents and risk generally comes at the initial expense of lowered productivity, employers have a strong disincentive to provide safety systems. Consequently, workers with less power or representation are generally more at risk from workplace hazards. Women, migrants, and temporary workers are some of the groups most likely to be put at risk of workplace hazards.

The nature and severity of workplace hazards varies depending on the type of work, the regulations in force in the geographic area in which the work takes place, the state of new scientific understanding, and the industry concerned. New forms of occupation and working activity, based more on [Page 1979]to be prosecuted, when employers may prefer to settle out of court rather than fight a losing battle. Since the majority of the world's population either depends on agriculture or else lives and works in poor urban conditions, it is considered important by many that international rights-based organizations focus on those hazards which are broadly applicable rather than focusing too much on those which are more contentious and expensive to implement.