https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2025.02.91
1 State Institution "Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine.
2 State Labor Service of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
3 Ukrainian Military Medical Academy, Kyiv, Ukraine
Full article (PDF), UKR
Introduction
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 2.9 million workers worldwide die annually as a result of occupational accidents and work-related diseases. This figure represents only a fraction of the overall burden of occupational injuries, which consume substantial medical, social, and economic resources. The development of effective preventive measures for occupational injuries, including fatal cases, remains a major public health challenge.
Trends in occupational injury incidence are influenced by socio-economic, medical, and demographic transformations. In Ukraine, these transformations have been particularly pronounced due to the global financial crisis of 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full-scale war. The present study continues previous research on occupational injuries in Ukraine and remains highly relevant under current conditions.
The aim of the research
To identify trends in occupational injury incidence among workers in Ukraine during 2000–2024 under conditions of socio-economic and military transformations.
Materials and methods of the research
The prevalence and structure of occupational injuries in Ukraine were analyzed using a continuous statistical sample of primary records for all first-time registered occupational accidents, including H-1/P accident investigation reports, for the period 2000–2024. Data were obtained from the Pension Fund of Ukraine, the State Labour Service of Ukraine, and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine.
Results
Monitoring of occupational injury indicators over the period 2000–2024 demonstrated a general downward trend. However, workers in the socio-cultural sector and trade, as well as in energy, transport, mechanical engineering, and the agro-industrial complex, experienced a high incidence of accidents while performing duties under conditions of hostilities.
During 2022–2024, a total of 2,442 occupational injury cases related to hostilities or the elimination of their consequences were analyzed, including 637 fatal cases, accounting for (26.10 ± 0.9) %. The leading causes of fatal occupational accidents were events of public life related to armed conflict and unlawful acts (45 %), road traffic accidents (16 %), falls (10 %), electric shock (8 %), collapse or falling of objects and materials (8 %), and exposure to moving or rotating objects (3 %).
Conclusions
In 2024, the total number of occupational accidents decreased almost tenfold compared with 2000, while the number of fatal accidents declined nearly threefold. The pattern of occupational injuries during 2020–2024 was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) and military operations (2022–2024).
In 2024, the highest injury rates per 100,000 workers were observed in coal and mining, mechanical engineering, energy, metallurgy, transport, chemical and petrochemical industries, communications, gas supply, and housing and communal services, where the frequency coefficient exceeded the national average (34.35). During the pandemic period, organizational causes predominated (up to 74 %), whereas during wartime, psychophysiological and social factors became dominant (up to 53 %) due to stress associated with armed conflict.
The highest number of injured workers was recorded among those working under hostilities, particularly in the socio-cultural sector, trade, transport, mechanical engineering, energy, and agro-industrial facilities classified as critical infrastructure.
Key words: occupational injuries, incidence trends, long-term dynamics, armed conflict, industries.
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