At least 422 workers lost their lives in 373 workplace accidents in the country between January and June this year, according to a report revealed by the Safety and Rights Society on Monday.
Of the total fatalities, 267 were resulting from road crashes while the highest number, 207, of workers died from the transport sector, according to the report.聽
The report says that during the same period in 2024, 475 workers were killed in 420 workplace accidents, according to a press release issued by the organisation.
According to the organisation, it has considered from going to the workplace to coming home within the purview of workplace.
The organisation observes that serious disregard for labour laws and safety protocols significantly increases the risk of fatal incidents, stressing that ensuring safety at workplaces is a shared responsibility of the employers, the government and the workers themselves.
Safety and Rights Society, a non-governmental organisation working on improving workplace safety, health and labour rights, prepared the report based on reports published in 26 national and local newspapers.
According to the report, the causes of worker deaths during the six-month period were diverse, with the majority鈥�267 fatalities鈥攔esulting from road accidents followed by 56 from lightning strikes, 40 from electrocution, 23 from falls from height, 12 due to fire or explosions, nine by falling heavy objects on the victims, eight by wall or earth collapse, five from drowning, and one each from toxic gas inhalation and other causes.
Sector-wise, the highest number, 207, of workers died from the transport sector, followed by 65 from the service sector, 59 each from the agriculture and the construction, and 32 from the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
The organisation highlighted multiple root causes behind these 鈥榩reventable鈥� fatalities, including structural weaknesses, use of hazardous machinery, technical failures, unregulated transport systems, incompetent drivers, lack of risk awareness and safety training among workers, inadequate use of personal protective equipment, excessive workload, insufficient rest, natural disasters, anda聽 lack of emergency and post-accident primary medical services.
The organisation鈥檚 executive director Sekender Ali Mina said that workplace accidents continued and the death toll kept rising despite technological advancements and evolving industrial practices.
Sector-specific long-term planning for workplace standards and proper implementation are essential, he said.
鈥楾his calls for effective coordination between workers and employers and significant strengthening of the inspection system,鈥� he stressed.
Without this tripartite cooperation, workplace accident prevention would not be possible, he added.
