Although work-related accidents appear to be prevalent in Iran, accurate statistics on this issue are lacking. Unofficial figures suggest that between five and six workers succumb to fatal accidents daily, yet workplace safety remains inadequately addressed on a macroscopic level.
Moreover, comprehensive inspections of workshops are not conducted effectively, and factors such as profit-driven motives, outdated technology, and other priorities often overshadow the protection of human resources. Consequently, the frequency of work-related accidents continues to rise.
Individuals become trapped in coal mines, succumb to fires in oil companies, fall from scaffolding, endure extreme heat in industrial areas like Asaluyeh, or perish in steel factories. According to official statistics from the regime’s Ministry of Labor in 2022, over 700 individuals lost their lives due to work-related accidents, averaging two fatalities every working day.
Forensic medicine presents even higher figures, estimating 1,900 annual fatalities. Tehran province records 399 deaths, followed by Isfahan with 176, while Khorasan-Razavi and Mazandaran provinces report 116 fatalities each. Conversely, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province recorded three deaths, Zanjan five, and Ilam nine, indicating lower mortality rates.
Unofficial sources cite figures between five and six deaths, highlighting discrepancies between official and unofficial statistics. Official data solely accounts for insured workers, excluding uninsured individuals, foreign nationals, and informal workers, contributing to statistical variations.
Construction workers experience the highest fatality rates, with many incidents going unreported, leaving their deaths unnoticed. Over 90% of workplace accidents are preventable.
The social repercussions of workplace accidents are profound. Each worker’s death devastates a family, particularly if the deceased was an informal worker, as relatives may not receive pensions, leading to financial instability. Even non-fatal injuries can cause significant hardships. The broader societal impact is immeasurable.
Inadequate training, insufficient government oversight, and restrictions on trade union activities exacerbate the occurrence of fatal workplace accidents. The National Federation of Iranian Retirees recently criticized the Ministry of Labor’s regulatory oversight and urged employers to prioritize safety equipment provision.
