Ethiopia
Ethiopia is facing a critical public health and economic challenge as more than two million workers are affected by occupational injuries, according to a major national study published in Scientific Reports. The peer-reviewed research reveals a national workplace injury rate of 4.96% running parallel to a stark deficit in safety compliance, with personal protective equipment (PPE) utilization remaining critically low across the country.
The study utilized secondary data from the 2021 Ethiopian National Labour Force and Migration Survey (NLFMS), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey conducted by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA). Designed to establish national baseline estimates, the research provides crucial data for monitoring progress toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which promotes decent work, safe working environments, and sustained economic growth by 2030.
The findings highlight significant gender-based disparities within the national workforce. While male workers bore a higher overall rate of physical injuries at 5.40%, female workers faced a disproportionate burden regarding health-related work inactivity, which stood at 18.18%. Across all demographics, general illnesses (24.76%) and ergonomic back problems (22.82%) emerged as the leading categories of work-related health complications.
A major factor compounding the injury rate is the severe lack of protective gear, with national PPE utilization sitting at just 5.04%. Safety compliance remains heavily centralized in urban centers, peaking in Addis Ababa at 15.80%, while rural areas are left largely unprotected. Furthermore, existing PPE usage is narrow, consisting almost entirely of masks and helmets; critical workplace hazards like noise and repetitive strain remain unaddressed, as evidenced by a negligible 0.37% rate of earplug utilization.
The research team concluded that reducing workplace casualties relies less on the raw availability of safety equipment and more on systemic regulatory overhauls. To close the safety gap, the study recommends that Ethiopia’s national occupational health and safety policy transition toward decentralized enforcement, mandate employer-backed PPE provision, and implement gender-sensitive ergonomic interventions in major sectors like agriculture.
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