758 workers killed in workplace accidents across Bangladesh in 2024: Survey
Most of the workers who died this year were between the ages of 21 and 40, according to the survey conducted by the Safety and Rights Society
As many as 758 workers were killed in 639 workplace accidents across the country between 1 January and 31 December 2024, according to a survey conducted by the Safety and Rights Society (SRS).
This year, the number of workplace deaths has decreased slightly since last year. In the same period of 2023, 875 workers were killed in 772 workplace accidents across the country, showed data from the Safety and Rights Society Survey 2024.
The survey was conducted by non-governmental organisation SRS based on news published in newspapers (15 national and 11 local), according to a press release issued today (31 December).
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Most of the workers who died this year were between the ages of 21 and 40, i.e. the youth force, said SRS Executive Director Sekender Ali Mina while officially presenting the survey report during a press conference at the SRS office in Dhaka this morning.
Workers who died in road accidents on their way to work were also included in the survey.
Analysis of survey data showed that the transport sector recorded the highest number of worker fatalities, totalling 379 individuals, read the release.
Following closely are service establishments, including workshops, gas and electricity supply establishments, etc., with 129 reported fatalities.
Construction ranks third, with 92 workers killed, followed by 70 fatalities in factories and other productive establishments. The agriculture sector also recorded 86 worker fatalities.
As many as 464 individuals perished in road accidents; 81 succumbed to electrocution; 30 lost their lives in fires and various explosions; 50 met their demise by falling from a floor or above; 69 were struck by lightning; 21 were either hit or crushed by hard or heavy objects; seven perished due to the collapse of mountains, ground, bridges, buildings, roofs, or walls; 11 were exposed to chemicals or toxic gases from septic tanks or water tanks; 17 drowned in water; and eight passed away from other causes.
The survey found that road structure, unfit vehicles, incompetent drivers, uncontrolled transport systems, obstruction in law enforcement, reckless driving, etc. were causes of accidents in the transport sector, according to the release.
Causes of accidents in the manufacturing sector include not taking permission from the concerned department for construction of factories; not training the workers on safety issues; inefficiency in the use of chemicals and connecting electrical lines without any safety measures in the construction sector; working on scaffolding without using safety belts and septic tanks or SRS identified the lack of necessary precautions in working on water tanks.
While publishing the survey data, SRS Executive Director Mina said that the actual number of workers killed in workplace accidents is more because the number of those who died here is only the ones reported in the newspapers. But there are cases where the news of deaths from workplace accidents do not get reported in the media.
Many workers were shot dead on their way to work during the July-August uprising and they were not included in this survey, he added.
Although the number of deaths at work has decreased this year, the number of deaths due to road accidents and lightning has increased compared to last year. There is a need to provide social security for agricultural labourers who die due to lightning and do not get any compensation, he said.
Mentioning the financial loss caused by these deaths due to work accidents is not estimated, Mina called on the interim government to take appropriate initiatives to ensure social security of workers in addition to workplace safety.
