Occupational diseases are illnesses or health conditions that are caused or deteriorated by the work or working conditions of a working person. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines occupational diseases as “any disease or illness contracted as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work environment or work activity.” Occupational diseases can range from physical conditions, such as lung diseases caused by inhaling hazardous substances, to mental health conditions, such as stress and burnout sydrome.
The Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Code No. 5510, which is the primer law of the Turkish Social Security Regime, defines the concept of occupational disease as “temporary or permanent illness and states of physical or mental disability which arose from recurring acts due to the nature of the work of the insured or due to the conditions of the execution of the work.”
The most common types of occupational diseases globally are lung diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and skin diseases.
Examples of occupational diseases include:
- Asbestosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers
- Black lung disease, a lung disease caused by inhaling coal dust
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a repetitive strain injury caused by performing the same motions with the hands and wrists over and over again
- Occupational Stress, a mental health condition caused by work-related stressors
- Noise-induced hearing loss, caused by exposure to excessive noise levels at work
There is a significant body of evidence that highlights the problem of occupational diseases globally. The ILO estimates that there are over 340 million work-related accidents and 160 million cases of work-related illnesses each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), occupational diseases are responsible for an estimated approximately 6% of all deaths worldwide, or 2.3 million deaths per year.
Research also shows that occupational diseases disproportionately affect workers in low and middle-income countries, where there is less regulation and enforcement of workplace safety standards. For example, a study by the ILO found that the majority of deaths due to work-related diseases occurred in low and middle-income countries, with the highest rates found in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Additionally, certain occupations have a higher risk of occupational diseases than others. For example, workers in the construction, mining, and manufacturing industries are at a higher risk of developing lung diseases due to exposure to dust and other hazardous substances. Similarly, workers in the healthcare and social work sectors are at a higher risk of developing stress and burnout due to the nature of their work.
It’s also reported that workers in informal employment and low-paid jobs are more at risk of occupational diseases. A study by the ILO found that informal workers were more likely to be exposed to hazardous working conditions and less likely to have access to health and safety measures.
In sum, within a global perspective occupational diseases are illnesses contracted as a result of an exposure to risk factors arising from work environment or work activity. As a global problem, occupational diseases estimated to result with 2.3 million deceases each year globally. Research shows that the problem is worse in the developing and under-developed regions and the low-paid and informal workers are impacted with the problem worse. In addition, the evidence suggests that workers in certain occupations and economic sectors are disproportionately affected.
