More than 840,000 people die every year from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks at work – including long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment– according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency.
Work-related psychosocial risks are mainly associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders, including suicide, the report noted.
“Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work,” said Manal Azzi, team lead on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policy and systems at the ILO.
“Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organisational performance, and sustainable economic development,” she added.
Work shapes identity, social connection, and economic security, and its design and organisation determine whether it is coherent and adequately resourced, or whether excessive demands, role ambiguity, and perceived unfairness create harm.
