Hearing disorders account for 82.3 per cent of occupational diseases in 2024

KOTA BHARU - Hearing-related conditions accounted for 82.3 per cent of the 8,196 confirmed occupational disease cases recorded nationwide in 2024, making them the most prevalent category of occupational disease in the country.

Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Deputy Director-General (Occupational Health) Ahmad Jailani Mansor said 6,747 of the confirmed cases involved hearing disorders.

He said workplace exposure to excessive noise was the main factor behind the high incidence of hearing-related occupational diseases, particularly in the industrial sector.

"In addition, there were 820 recorded cases of occupational musculoskeletal disorders, 299 cases of diseases caused by physical agents, 203 cases of occupational poisoning, and 82 cases of skin diseases.

"There were also 24 cases of diseases caused by biological agents, 16 cases of lung diseases, three cases of occupational cancer and two cases of psychosocial disorders," he said when speaking at the East Coast Zone Occupational Health Symposium 2026 here today.

Ahmad Jailani said a total of 11,465 occupational disease cases were reported nationwide in 2024, of which 8,196 were confirmed as occupational diseases.

He said the statistics indicated that workers continued to be exposed to various occupational risk factors that could affect their long-term health.

"Measures to prevent, control and manage occupational health risks must continue to be strengthened to safeguard workers' well-being, particularly as occupational health challenges become increasingly complex," he said. - BERNAMA