Young workers under 25 face highest risk of occupational injuries: Study
Bengaluru: Workers below the age of 25 are at the highest risk of suffering from traumatic occupational injuries, often leading to severe financial hardship compounded by limited insurance coverage, according to a recent study.
The findings, as cited by Deccan Herald on Monday, were published in the Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and are based on data collected from 148 occupational injury cases over a six-month period. The data was gathered through hospital records and direct telephonic interviews with patients at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru.
The study sample primarily consisted of male workers, 144 out of 148, with an average age of 30.6 years. These individuals were employed across various labour-intensive and informal sectors such as construction, mining, transport, manufacturing, cleaning, and the garment industry. Their interviews revealed that individuals under 25 years are most vulnerable to workplace injuries.
Key contributors to these injuries included unsafe working environments and employee negligence. The study found that injuries commonly affected limbs, the head, and the eyes. While nearly 69% of respondents indicated that personal protective equipment (PPE) was available at their workplaces, only 51.4% reported consistent usage of the safety gear.
Financial distress emerged as a significant concern among those surveyed. Approximately 43% of the injured workers reported ‘catastrophic’ healthcare expenses. Meanwhile, only 36.5% were able to benefit from company credit coverage, and just 7.4% benefitted from the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme.
The report, as cited by DH, mentioned the importance of targeted interventions to reduce the incidence of occupational injuries, especially in high-risk sectors. Recommendations included improving the distribution and usage of PPE through enforcement and worker training, expanding insurance coverage to alleviate financial strain, and enhancing awareness about existing social protection schemes.
Highlighting the broader scale of the issue, the study’s authors noted that India sees approximately 17 million non-fatal and 45,000 fatal occupational injuries each year. These findings underscore an urgent need for systemic changes in occupational safety, particularly for younger workers who are often at the frontline of hazardous, low-paid labour.
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Had a very good conversation with friend Modi: Trump
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had a "very good conversation" with his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday.
"I had a very good talk with him, and he's a friend of mine from India, and he's doing great. We had a very good conversation," Trump told reporters here as he headed to Las Vegas to address a roundtable on tax cuts.
Trump had called Modi on Tuesday to discuss the bilateral relationship and share perspectives on the situation in West Asia, where the US and Israel have launched a war on Iran.
The US and Iran declared a two-week ceasefire on April 7. They engaged in peace talks with Washington, insisting that Tehran give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and uranium enrichment.
The war with Iran has sent gas prices soaring as Tehran blocked the sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for a fifth of global oil supplies.
During the Trump-Modi phone call on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.
According to the US Ambassador to India Sergei Gor, the 40-minute conversation ended with Trump telling Modi, "we all love you".
Tuesday's phone call was the second between the two leaders since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.
