Report shows workplace harm often goes unreported

London — Around half of workers who’ve been harmed on the job in the past two years didn’t report it, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

For the independent global safety charity’s World Risk Poll, researchers from management consulting and research company Gallup conducted nearly 147,000 interviews in 142 countries and territories, asking workers about their experiences with and perceptions of harm on the job.

Almost 1 out of 5 of the workers (18%) – which equates to roughly 667 million workers worldwide – have endured serious harm on the job in the past two years. Notably, 49% of such cases go unreported.

Why the reluctance? The report cites factors including fear of reprisal, lack of management responsiveness, obstacles in recordkeeping and belief that pain “is an ordinary consequence of some jobs.”

Additionally, 62% of the workers said they’d never received safety and health training, including 80% of those employed in agriculture.

“The more recently people have had training, the more likely they are to report workplace harm if they experience it,” the report states.

In a press release, Martin Cottam, chair of ISO Technical Committee 283 on Occupational Health and Safety Management, calls the findings in that portion of the report “sobering reading for all those working to encourage better occupational health and safety performance, as they highlight the scale of the ongoing challenge.”

He added: “Amid all the discussion about the plethora of tools and methods available to reduce harm, it is shocking to be confronted with the fact that a majority of the global workforce has never received any occupational safety and health training.”

In a recent blog post on the report, Sarah Ischer – environmental, health and safety manager at the National Safety Council – encourages open communication and the implementation of comprehensive training programs in workplaces.

“By doing so,” Ischer writes, “organizations can not only protect their employees but also empower them to thrive in a safe and productive environment.

“In the end, safety is not just about minimizing risks; it’s about fostering a workplace where everyone feels secure and engaged – ultimately driving success for all.”