A new report from the International Labour Organisation has found that around 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to workplace risks, highlighting growing global concern over how modern work environments affect both physical and mental health.
The study, titled ‘The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action,’ posted on its X account on Wednesday, shows that the way jobs are designed, organised, and managed plays a major role in workers’ wellbeing, stressing that it identifies long working hours, job insecurity, workplace harassment, and bullying as key contributing factors.
According to the report, these risks are not only affecting mental health but are also linked to serious physical conditions such as cardiovascular disease.
“In some cases, they are also associated with severe mental health outcomes, including suicide,” ILO said.
The analysis draws on global health data from the World Health Organisation and research from the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate the scale of deaths associated with workplace conditions.
It breaks down workplace risks into three main areas: the nature of the job itself, how work is organised and managed, and wider workplace policies such as performance management systems and protections against harassment and bullying.
The ILO also warns that rapid changes in the world of work, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, remote work, and shifting job structures, could intensify these risks if not properly managed.
The team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO, Manal Azzi, speaking on the findings, said psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most serious challenges in occupational safety today.
She stressed that improving working conditions is essential not only for protecting health but also for maintaining productivity and long-term economic stability.
The report emphasises that many of these deaths are preventable if governments and employers take stronger action. It calls for workplace safety systems to include psychosocial risk management and for closer cooperation between employers, workers, and policymakers.
Overall, the ILO warns that addressing workplace risks is no longer just a matter of physical safety, but a broader public health and economic priority.
