More than 1.2 million deaths annually (2015 data) are estimated to be caused by occupational risks. Large gaps persist with regard to the health status of workers and their exposure to occupational risks. In addition, only a small minority of the global workforce has access to occupational health services. Nevertheless, effective interventions to prevent occupational hazards and to protect and promote health at the workplace are available.

Access to reliable and sustainable energy is a prerequisite for high-quality health care. Safely managed water, sanitation, access to basic hygiene facilities and adequate waste management are needed to maintain hygienic environments and prevent health care-acquired infections. Occupational health services need to protect health care workers in order to ensure health care delivery. Furthermore, the health sector can adopt a wide range of environmentally responsible practices when offering its health care and prevention services, and help protect and promote health through those practices.

Yet as many as 1 in 4 health care facilities lack access to even basic levels of water, exposing 1.8 billion people to greater risk of infections. In addition, 1 in 3 health care facilities lack hand hygiene at points of care, 1 in 3 do not segregate waste safely and 1 in 10 have no sanitation services (based on a 2020 global update from WHO/UNICEF which includes data for 165 countries).