Occupational safety and health in Europe - state and trends 2023 
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – EU-OSHA 85 
Table 25: Summary Burden of diseases EU27, Global deaths – WHO/ILO 2016220,221 
 
The global number of deaths per 100,000 population (≥ age 15) is 34.7 cases, and for the EU27 it is at 
a level of 30.7 cases per 100,000 (≥ age 16).222 
The next table displays the relation between major work -related risks  and the health outcome 
measured in DALYs at a European and a global level. Asbestos-related cancers account for the highest 
share of more than 29% (1,269,143 DALYs); the second and third largest group of diseases are back 
and neck pain and work -related injuries. At a global level, injuries dominate (29.4%), followed by 
cardiovascular diseases (25.9%), and back and neck pain (13.7%). The data for the EU27 and ‘Global’ 
look quite similar for hearing loss and asthma. The global number of DALYs per 100,000 population (≥ 
age 15) is 1,657, for the EU27 it is at a level of 1,172 cases per 100,000. 
 
Table 26: Summary Burden of diseases table DALYs WHO/ILO223 
 
 
The differences for this deviation between the EU27 and the global situation will be the subject of 
future research and analysis. It can be assumed that different working conditions and a different level 
of prevention measures are important factors. A crucial factor is the monitoring capacity, that is, the 
ability — and/or obligation — of the health system to identify and register work -related diseases, and 
the publication of reliable and well accessible statistics.