Safety training boosts harm reporting in high-risk sectors

Recent occupational safety training significantly increases the reporting of workplace harm.

Nearly one in five people worldwide have experienced serious harm at work over the past two years, according to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s (LRF) World Risk Poll 2024 report. In Asia, this figure is even higher, with South Asia reporting some of the highest self-reported workplace harm rates.

Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence & Insight at LRF, pointed out that globally, about 18 to 19% of the workforce has experienced serious workplace harm, however, in South Asia, the rate jumps to 27%, far exceeding the global average. Even broader regions in Asia also report harm rates around 20%, placing the region well above the global benchmark.

Addressing these alarming figures requires targeted strategies, Hey emphasised. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training plays a critical role in reducing workplace harm, particularly in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing, utilities, and transportation.

She noted that workers who have undergone safety training in the past two years are three times more likely to report when something goes wrong. “If we know about them, they can be tackled and addressed quickly and carefully.”

While many industries in the region have implemented safety training programs, Hey pointed out that there is room for improvement in sectors that face higher accident risks. Construction and manufacturing, for example, have significant safety concerns, yet their training rates remain insufficient in some areas. Transportation, another high-risk sector, currently sees only around 50% of its workforce receiving proper safety training.

“We need to know our people, know our context, and the risks in those particular contexts,” Hey advised. Different industries face unique challenges, and safety training should be adjusted to reflect the specific hazards present in sectors like construction or transportation.

Ultimately, recent safety training does more than just improve reporting rates; it also strengthens the overall safety culture within organisations. Hey concluded that “when you know where the harm is, you can then manage it.”