Between January and March this year, the harsh reality of workplace safety in Colombia was laid bare when 89 individuals lost their lives due to work-related incidents. This means that every day, a worker tragically met their end while simply carrying out their job duties. The latest report from the Occupational Health and Safety Observatory by the Colombian Safety Council (CCS), based on data provided by Fasecolda, sheds light on the persistent issue of occupational fatalities despite some institutional progress in recent years.
“The data shows that workers’ lives are still at real risk, highlighting structural decisions that have yet to be made in terms of protection, coverage, and oversight,”
remarked Adriana Solano Luque, the executive president of CCS.
Of the 89 reported deaths, a staggering 98.8% resulted from accidents at work, unexpected events, or operational failures in work environments. This underscores the critical need to enhance risk management strategies, particularly in high-exposure sectors like mining, construction, and transportation.
“We cannot normalize a death every day just for going to work,”
emphasized Solano.
The geographical distribution of these tragic incidents reveals disparities across regions. Bogotá recorded the highest number of workplace fatalities with 15 cases (16.9% of the total), followed by Boyacá with 14 deaths and Antioquia with 13. While there was a 25% reduction in Bogotá, Boyacá and Antioquia experienced sustained increases, indicating varying regional trends.
In terms of mortality rates per sector, “Mining and Quarrying
” continued to dominate with a rate of 14.33 deaths per 100,000 workers—more than twenty times higher than the national average—claiming 18 lives (20.2% of total deaths). The “
Construction
” sector also saw a significant uptick with a 70% increase compared to 2024 reporting.
Despite an overall rise in affiliation to General System of Occupational Risks compared to previous years—reaching 12.8 million covered workers—the report highlights that over eleven million employed individuals remain outside this protective system. This means only 55% of the country’s workforce is effectively safeguarded against workplace accidents or illnesses.
“
While half the country remains exposed due to informal labor practices—the figures on accident rates won’t decrease,” cautioned CCS.
Experts stress that reducing workplace fatalities isn’t an unattainable dream but rather requires strong willpower and prioritization within Colombia’s labor agenda.
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