Malaysia observed an increase in rate of occupational injury in 2023

A total of 38,950 cases of occupational injury were recorded in the year, up from 34,216 cases recorded in 2022. 

Malaysia’s Department of Statistics (DOSM) released its’ National Occupational Injury and Disease Statistics 2023 on 12 November 2024 (Tuesday).  

The statistics of these occupational injuries were broken down into four categories:  

1. Occupational injuries,  
2. Non-fatal occupational injuries, 
3. Fatal occupational injuries, and
4. Occupational diseases and poisoning. 

In addition, these statistics detail the type of injury, cause of injury, factors causing injury, industry and state for the year 2023. 

Occupational injuries    

In 2023, Malaysia recorded a 13.8% increase in occupational injury cases with a total of 38,950 cases as compared to 34,216 cases recorded in 2022. 

"Hence, the occupational injury rate per 1,000 workers also increased to 2.46 as compared to 2.26 in 2022," Chief Statistician Dato' Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin added in the report. 

Demographics 

In terms of occupational injuries by demographic background, the statistics revealed that more than two-thirds of the cases were male workers (83.7%) as compared to female workers (17.3%). 

Nationality  

Statistics on occupational injuries by nationality showed that Malaysian citizens are the most numerous at 87.2% (33,949 cases), while non-Malaysian citizens account for 12.8% (5,001 cases). 

Age group 

Disaggregating occupational injuries by age group in 2023, the majority of cases involved workers under the age of 45, with almost 70.7% (27,537 cases). 

“On the contrary, the highest occupational injury rate per 1,000 workers were recorded by the 60-to-64-year age group at 2.71, followed by the 55-to-59-year age group at a rate of 2.69 and the 50-to-54-year age group at a rate of 2.54,” the chief statistician highlighted.  

State 

All states except Kedah experienced an increase in occupational injuries, with Selangor seeing the highest increase in the number of occupational injuries of 8,042 cases. 

In 2023, seven states recorded an occupational injury rate that exceeded the national rate of 2.46. 

Penang had the highest rate at 4.78, followed by:  

• Johor (3.48) 

• Perak (3.20) 

• Negeri Sembilan (3.01) 

• Melaka (3.01) 

• Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya (2.94) 

• Pahang (2.79) 

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 

The services sector recorded the highest number of occupational injuries with 10,608 cases, followed by manufacturing and construction sectors which registered 10,335 and 5,379 cases respectively.  

The lowest number of cases in 2023 was recorded by the mining & quarrying sector with 116 cases. 

Cause of injuries 

According to Dato' Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, "other dimensions for the analysis of occupational injuries related to the cause of injuries were different according to industry and workplace."

The most frequent types of occupational injuries in 2023 were: 

• Falls: 9,147 injuries and 95 deaths 
• Object impacts: 8,744 injuries and 76 deaths 
• Other injuries: 5,504 injuries and 34 deaths 

These injuries were primarily caused by: 

• Working environment: 20,558 cases 
• Transport and lifting equipment: 7,350 cases 
• Machinery: 2,608 cases 

Location of injuries 

Most occupational injuries affected the upper limbs (fingers, hands, shoulders) with 13,670 cases. Lower limb (legs, knees) injuries followed with 9,270 cases. A significant number of cases, 4,715, had unspecified injury locations. 

Common injury types 

The most frequent types of injuries in 2023 were: 

• Other wounds: 15,470 cases 

• Fractures: 7,982 cases 

• Other & unspecified injuries: 5,500 cases

Fatal occupational injuries   

“In the meantime, a total of 324 cases of fatal occupational injuries were recorded in 2023, an increase of 7 cases as compared to 317 cases in 2022.  

“On the other hand, the rate of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers for 2023 recorded a decrease to 2.05 as compared to 2.09 recorded in 2022,” Dato' Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said. 

Demographics 

In terms of occupational injuries by demographic background, the statistics revealed that more than two-thirds of the cases were male workers (83.7%) as compared to female workers (17.3%). 

Referring to fatal occupational injuries, the male category recorded 320 cases (98.1%) while 4 cases (1.1%) were in the female category. 

Age group 

The 20 to 24 age group recorded the highest fatal occupational injury rate at 2.73. Meanwhile, the age groups of 60 to 64 years ranked second highest with a rate of 2.70, followed by the age groups of 55 to 59 (2.65) and 35 to 39 (2.45), exceeding the national fatal occupational injury rate of 2.05 in 2023. 

State 

Most states, including Selangor, Sabah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and W.P. Labuan, saw an increase in fatal occupational injuries. The highest fatal occupational injury rate were in Terengganu (3.24), with a total of 15 deaths. 

On the other hand, Pahang recorded the highest reduction with a rate of 2.36 (year 2022: 3.47) by recording 17 cases compared to 24 cases in 2022. 

OSHA 1994 

The construction sector remains the highest in terms of fatal occupational injuries with a total of 88 cases (year 2022: 72 cases), following risks related to falls, machinery accidents and other hazards, followed by the manufacturing (66 cases) and services (44 cases) sectors. 

Non-fatal occupational injuries   

The number of cases for non-fatal occupational injuries increased from 33,899 in 2022 to 38,626 cases 2023. Therefore, increasing the rate of non-fatal occupational injuries per 1,000 workers from 2.24 in 2022 to 2.44 in 2023. 

Occupational diseases and poisoning 

Occupational diseases and poisoning are health conditions that occur as a result of exposure to hazard at work, caused by repeated exposure to hazardous substances or unsafe working conditions. 

In 2023, there were 8,155 cases with more than two-thirds or 82.8% of all diseases concentrated in the category of occupational noise-related hearing disorders which were 6,754 cases.  

This was followed by occupational musculoskeletal diseases (696 cases) and diseases caused by physical agent (359 cases). 

The chief statistician concluded saying: “The statistical situation of occupational injuries shows the ongoing challenges in workplace safety.  

“Most countries have implemented safety regulations and initiatives to reduce workplace accidents including safety training, inspections and penalties for non-compliance.” 

READ MORE: Malaysia’s labour market remained strong in September and Q3 2024: DOSM 

Infographics / DOSM

Lead image / DOSM