Work is still more dangerous than it was 10 years ago

Manuel Simon Velasco ILO

That is more than 3,300 work-related deaths a day.

"Work is still more dangerous than it was 10 years ago," said ILO's workers activities director Manuel Simon Velasco.

The ILO attacked employers and governments for neglecting safety at work.

"Globalisation, increasing the competition between companies, has too many negative effects on work safety," Mr Velasco said.

Accidents

Work accidents are becoming ever more common, particularly in Asia where four times as many people die from workplace accidents than in industrialised countries, according to ILO statistics.

People in poor countries face greater risks

Globally, 1.2 million people die and 250 million people are affected by workplace accidents every year.

Accidents are often caused by "non-existent prevention, dangerous production practises, sometimes the inattention of governments to the problem, and impunity for employers guilty of negligence", Mr Velasco said.

Poisons

Each year, more than 900,000 workers die from people illnesses linked to the use of toxic substances.

Asbestos is another killer: It takes 100,000 lives each year and could cause more than a million deaths by 2030.

Agricultural workers are also at risk, with 170,000 dying each year.

In addition, millions are injured, or poisoned by pesticides, the ILO reported.