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Occupational health

Facts and figures

Global burden of disease study

A recent WHO study provides estimates of the health impact of the most widespread occupational risk factors. Unhealthy working conditions contribute to at least 1.6% of the burden of disease in the WHO European Region. Statistics shows that the major occupational risks associated with this burden are:

  • injuries (40% of the occupational burden of disease);
  • noise (22%);
  • carcinogens (18%);
  • airborne particulate matter (17%); and
  • ergonomic hazards (3%).

Background and basis

The European network of WHO collaborating centres on occupational health developed national occupational health and safety profiles for 22 countries, which also provide estimates about the magnitude of many occupational health risks. These profiles are very useful to national governments in setting priorities for action on occupational health.